June 2
“For those who follow godly paths will rest in peace when they die.” (Isaiah 57:2, NLT)
““But those who still reject me are like the restless sea, which is never still but continually churns up mud and dirt.” (Isaiah 57:20, NLT)
““But those who still reject me are like the restless sea, which is never still but continually churns up mud and dirt.” (Isaiah 57:20, NLT)
I remember learning how to play a guitar. My big sister played the guitar so easily, so I wanted to play just as well. On TV and when listening to the radio, I saw the way people played the guitar. It seemed like a great thing to learn. However, I was not gifted with much musical ability. I cannot carry a tune. I can hear when another person is singing off-key but cannot tell when I am! Also, I just wasn’t willing to spend the hours and hours learning how to play keys on the guitar. On a nice day during summer, why play a guitar tethered to a chair when I could be out playing baseball or tennis?!!! I only desired to be a guitarist for two years. It’s a shame, though. I love it when a friend plays the guitar for a sing-a-long!
Max Lucado felt the same way about learning to play the piano. He, too, thought it would be a great instrument to master. He daydreamed about playing for an entire congregation. Years later, he wrote this…
“When I was ten years old, my mother enrolled me in piano lessons.… Spending thirty minutes every afternoon tethered to a piano bench was a torture.…
Some of the music, though, I learned to enjoy. I hammered the staccatos. I belabored the crescendos.… But there was one instruction in the music I could never obey to my teacher’s satisfaction. The rest. The zigzagged command to do nothing. What sense does that make? Why sit at the piano and pause when you can pound?
“Because,” my teacher patiently explained, “music is always sweeter after a rest.”
It didn’t make sense to me at age ten. But now, a few decades later, the words ring with wisdom—divine wisdom.” (Grace for the Moment, p. 282)
Max Lucado and I shared a common problem among budding musicians. We had a hard time with rests. He wanted to pound the piano through the rests, ignoring their purpose. I wanted to play outside and not to rest between beats on the guitar! When you are young, rest time seems like a break from fun time. It feels like a waste of playing time. As one grows older, the value of rest becomes abundantly clear. God made rest for a reason!
In the scripture for today, we see two opposite individuals and their outcomes. In Isaiah 57:2, the godly person knows godly rest. This person also will die, resting in peace. Several other verses in the Bible describe the righteous as those who rest at night peacefully, because mind and body are perfectly attuned with Almighty God. However, Isaiah 57:20 describes those who reject God as resembling “a restless sea”. As a sea that is tossed and storm-swept is “churned up with mud and dirt”, so are the heart and soul of those who have rejected to follow God’s ways. The contrast is stark. Those who follow God seem to find rest in life. Those who wander away from God can’t seem to attain that perfect rest. They cannot feel calmed, they roil in their beds at night, they worry away the hours, they cannot secure peace.
When four Christian friends gathered at the coffee shop for a “Girls’ Day Out”, Bethany turned to Kristen and said, “Wow! You look exhausted! Are you sick?” Kristen then explained that her husband had been having sleepless nights. He often tossed and turned and would even cry out in his sleep. The women did all they could to comfort Kristen in her sleep-deprived misery. However, Amelia spoke up with a caution, “Are you sure that something isn’t bothering your husband, keeping him up all night?”
This statement so bothered Kristen that she endeavored to find out. After a series of conversations, Kristen got her husband to set up a getaway at a spa an hour away from home. They were scheduled to spend the weekend together being pampered. There, she hoped, her husband would be able to tell her more about the sleepless nights.
During their weekend away, Kristen at first feared her husband might be having an affair. He often looked off in the distance or would lose track of the conversation. He also withheld from sex. This was unusual for her husband. Finally, on the drive back home, Kristen blurted out, “You are having an affair, aren’t you?” Her husband was shocked and dumbfounded. Only then did he let out that the reason for his distance and poor sleep was a situation at work that bothered him greatly. He was being forced by his boss to lie on daily record sheets that were part of the cost control measures laid out by the management. He didn’t know how long he could continue to lie to upper management to cover his boss’ screw-ups. Relieved at his not having an affair, Kristen helped him work through what to do. In the end, her husband left his job. Thereafter, he slept like a baby every night.
Lying, cheating, stealing, and any other form of sin can eat away at your peace. It can disturb your rest. Wandering away from God and facing the world without a Savior can result in worry and fear. You will not have Almighty God to watch over you. Satan will pursue you. Decisions that can affect your life with serious consequences will loom large. Sin can take root in your life, manipulating your decisions and bringing guilt to your sleep. Whenever you find yourself having to make choices, choose the godly way. Keep close to your Savior.
I have seen those who had their past “continually churned up” (Isaiah 57:20). I know those who made such a mess of life that they were mired in the mud and dirt of life. They couldn’t get away from their mistakes. I have also known those who gave up a life of sin and shame to follow God. You could see a gentleness come over their countenance and contentedness take over their thoughts. The closer they grew with God, the more they felt at peace in the soul and their mind found eternal rest. You don’t have to be dead to rest in peace.
Revelation 14:11 describes those who follow the evil beast to ultimate doom using these words: “the smoke of their torment goes up for ever and ever; and they have no rest, day or night”. Psalm 116:6-7 describes a man who returned to following God. He is described as one whose soul can finally return to a peaceful, restful state. Which type of person are you? Are you one whose soul rests comfortably in the Lord? Is there something that is stealing your holy rest time? Is there something hidden in your fears or your past that dredges up the dirt of a mistake and coopts your restful soul?
God desires you to know what good godly rest feels like. God wants to bring a peace to your soul. Don’t let anyone or anything steal that from you!
Max Lucado felt the same way about learning to play the piano. He, too, thought it would be a great instrument to master. He daydreamed about playing for an entire congregation. Years later, he wrote this…
“When I was ten years old, my mother enrolled me in piano lessons.… Spending thirty minutes every afternoon tethered to a piano bench was a torture.…
Some of the music, though, I learned to enjoy. I hammered the staccatos. I belabored the crescendos.… But there was one instruction in the music I could never obey to my teacher’s satisfaction. The rest. The zigzagged command to do nothing. What sense does that make? Why sit at the piano and pause when you can pound?
“Because,” my teacher patiently explained, “music is always sweeter after a rest.”
It didn’t make sense to me at age ten. But now, a few decades later, the words ring with wisdom—divine wisdom.” (Grace for the Moment, p. 282)
Max Lucado and I shared a common problem among budding musicians. We had a hard time with rests. He wanted to pound the piano through the rests, ignoring their purpose. I wanted to play outside and not to rest between beats on the guitar! When you are young, rest time seems like a break from fun time. It feels like a waste of playing time. As one grows older, the value of rest becomes abundantly clear. God made rest for a reason!
In the scripture for today, we see two opposite individuals and their outcomes. In Isaiah 57:2, the godly person knows godly rest. This person also will die, resting in peace. Several other verses in the Bible describe the righteous as those who rest at night peacefully, because mind and body are perfectly attuned with Almighty God. However, Isaiah 57:20 describes those who reject God as resembling “a restless sea”. As a sea that is tossed and storm-swept is “churned up with mud and dirt”, so are the heart and soul of those who have rejected to follow God’s ways. The contrast is stark. Those who follow God seem to find rest in life. Those who wander away from God can’t seem to attain that perfect rest. They cannot feel calmed, they roil in their beds at night, they worry away the hours, they cannot secure peace.
When four Christian friends gathered at the coffee shop for a “Girls’ Day Out”, Bethany turned to Kristen and said, “Wow! You look exhausted! Are you sick?” Kristen then explained that her husband had been having sleepless nights. He often tossed and turned and would even cry out in his sleep. The women did all they could to comfort Kristen in her sleep-deprived misery. However, Amelia spoke up with a caution, “Are you sure that something isn’t bothering your husband, keeping him up all night?”
This statement so bothered Kristen that she endeavored to find out. After a series of conversations, Kristen got her husband to set up a getaway at a spa an hour away from home. They were scheduled to spend the weekend together being pampered. There, she hoped, her husband would be able to tell her more about the sleepless nights.
During their weekend away, Kristen at first feared her husband might be having an affair. He often looked off in the distance or would lose track of the conversation. He also withheld from sex. This was unusual for her husband. Finally, on the drive back home, Kristen blurted out, “You are having an affair, aren’t you?” Her husband was shocked and dumbfounded. Only then did he let out that the reason for his distance and poor sleep was a situation at work that bothered him greatly. He was being forced by his boss to lie on daily record sheets that were part of the cost control measures laid out by the management. He didn’t know how long he could continue to lie to upper management to cover his boss’ screw-ups. Relieved at his not having an affair, Kristen helped him work through what to do. In the end, her husband left his job. Thereafter, he slept like a baby every night.
Lying, cheating, stealing, and any other form of sin can eat away at your peace. It can disturb your rest. Wandering away from God and facing the world without a Savior can result in worry and fear. You will not have Almighty God to watch over you. Satan will pursue you. Decisions that can affect your life with serious consequences will loom large. Sin can take root in your life, manipulating your decisions and bringing guilt to your sleep. Whenever you find yourself having to make choices, choose the godly way. Keep close to your Savior.
I have seen those who had their past “continually churned up” (Isaiah 57:20). I know those who made such a mess of life that they were mired in the mud and dirt of life. They couldn’t get away from their mistakes. I have also known those who gave up a life of sin and shame to follow God. You could see a gentleness come over their countenance and contentedness take over their thoughts. The closer they grew with God, the more they felt at peace in the soul and their mind found eternal rest. You don’t have to be dead to rest in peace.
Revelation 14:11 describes those who follow the evil beast to ultimate doom using these words: “the smoke of their torment goes up for ever and ever; and they have no rest, day or night”. Psalm 116:6-7 describes a man who returned to following God. He is described as one whose soul can finally return to a peaceful, restful state. Which type of person are you? Are you one whose soul rests comfortably in the Lord? Is there something that is stealing your holy rest time? Is there something hidden in your fears or your past that dredges up the dirt of a mistake and coopts your restful soul?
God desires you to know what good godly rest feels like. God wants to bring a peace to your soul. Don’t let anyone or anything steal that from you!
June 4
“All bitterness, and rage, and wrath, and clamor, and abusive speech, must be removed from you, together with all wickedness.”
(Ephesians 4:31, LEB)
(Ephesians 4:31, LEB)
Anger takes many forms. Sometimes, it comes out with the silent treatment, while at other times there is loud shouting. It may break out as a form of bitterness, with cutting words and sneers. Anger may come in the form of cussing or name-calling. Sometimes, anger is used in the forms of abuse, bullying, or abusive language.
In Ephesians chapter 4, the Apostle Paul discusses faith-issues relating to inter-personal conversations and actions. He urges the faithful to speak the truth (Ephesians 4:25). They are to be meek and patient (Ephesians 4:2). They need to bear with one another and not create dissentions (Ephesians 4:2-7). They are to do “honest work” (Ephesians 4:28). They are to keep a control of lusts and fleshly thoughts (Ephesians 4:21-24). In the scripture for today, Paul continued this explanation of faithful conversations and actions, focusing on hatred and anger. He urged the faithful to refrain not only from “wickedness” or evil, but also to keep "bitterness, rage, wrath, clamor, and abusive speech" from conversations (Ephesians 4:31). All these negative emotions are related to anger. Anger over a long period of time produces bitterness. Bitterness grows when your anger is allowed to fester. It then can come out in bouts of rage or wrath. Anger that is left to stew for a long time can also lead to abuse and “abusive speech”. Each of these forms of anger do not belong in a Christian heart. That is why in Ephesians 4:26, Paul urges the faithful to be angry if they must, but only for a short time. Maybe, less than one day!
Doug Nichols served as a missionary in India during the 1960’s. Though spending hours trying to pass out religious tracts on the streets, very few people responded to his work. Then, in 1967, he contracted Tuberculosis. While staying in a hospital specially designed for Tuberculosis patients, Nichols would wake up at night and cough as his lungs struggled to acquire enough air to breathe. On one particular night, as he was coughing, he noticed a man on the side of his bed leaning forward and falling back. The man did this for a good fifteen minutes, then rolled over on his back and cried himself back to sleep.
The next morning, when Nichols awoke, there was a terrible stench in the hospital ward. Upon smelling it, he realized that the man who had been on the side of his bed the night before had been trying to get to the bathroom but was too weak from Tuberculosis to get out of his bed. Upon waking to the awful smell, many of the other patients became very angry. They yelled at the man. They cursed him. Orderlies treated him roughly as they cleaned up the mess around his bed. One nurse even slapped him. When the hospital staff walked away, the man laid back down on his bed, covered his head with his pillow, and sobbed.
Nichols described what happened next to “World” magazine in the March 12, 1994 edition…
“The next night, I again awoke coughing. I noticed the man across the aisle sit up to again try to make his way to the washroom. However, still being so weak, he fell back whimpering as the night before. I was sick myself but before I realized what had happened, not knowing why I did it, I got out of my bed and went over to the old man. As I reached down and touched his shoulder, his eyes opened with a fearful questioning look. I simply smiled, put my arm under his head and neck, and my other arm under his legs, and picked him up.
Even though I was sick and weak, I was certainly stronger than he was. He was extremely light because of his old age and advanced TB. I walked down the hall to the washroom, which was really just a smelly, filthy small room with a hole in the floor. I stood behind him with my arms under his arms, holding him so he could take care of himself. After he finished, I picked him up and carried him back to his bed. As I began to lay him down, with my head next to his, he kissed me on the cheek, smiled, and said something which I suppose was “thank you.”
It was amazing what happened the next morning. One of the other patients whom I didn’t know woke me around 4:00 with a steaming cup of delicious Indian tea. He then made motions with his hands (he knew no English) indicating he wanted a tract. As the sun came up, some of the other patients began to approach, motioning that they would also like one of the booklets I had tried to distribute before. Throughout the day people came to me, asking for the Gospel booklets. This included the nurses, the hospital interns, the doctors, until everybody in the hospital had a tract, booklet, or Gospel of John. Over the next few days, several indicated they trusted Christ as Savior as a result of reading the Good News!”
In this beautiful story about sharing the gospel in an Indian hospital, Nichols beautifully portrayed how anger stifled the love in that ward. His gift of love and mercy, coupled with a rejection of anger, opened the doors to many beautiful changes in the souls around him.
Anger has a way of driving wedges between people. When it stays around too long, it festers and grows until bitterness, wrath, rage, and abusive language take over. As a follower of Jesus, you need to find ways to mitigate your anger and increase your love. You need to monitor your feelings, work through any issues, and seek the healing of God for any anger you possess. ANY ANGER YOU POSSESS!
Do you tend to hold onto your anger a little longer than spiritually healthy? Do you not realize the damage to the heart, body, and soul of an anger that festers too long? Even when you are right, even when you have been wronged, an anger that lasts for too long will eat YOU up from the inside out. Anger that festers is a poison best left to God to handle.
In Ephesians chapter 4, the Apostle Paul discusses faith-issues relating to inter-personal conversations and actions. He urges the faithful to speak the truth (Ephesians 4:25). They are to be meek and patient (Ephesians 4:2). They need to bear with one another and not create dissentions (Ephesians 4:2-7). They are to do “honest work” (Ephesians 4:28). They are to keep a control of lusts and fleshly thoughts (Ephesians 4:21-24). In the scripture for today, Paul continued this explanation of faithful conversations and actions, focusing on hatred and anger. He urged the faithful to refrain not only from “wickedness” or evil, but also to keep "bitterness, rage, wrath, clamor, and abusive speech" from conversations (Ephesians 4:31). All these negative emotions are related to anger. Anger over a long period of time produces bitterness. Bitterness grows when your anger is allowed to fester. It then can come out in bouts of rage or wrath. Anger that is left to stew for a long time can also lead to abuse and “abusive speech”. Each of these forms of anger do not belong in a Christian heart. That is why in Ephesians 4:26, Paul urges the faithful to be angry if they must, but only for a short time. Maybe, less than one day!
Doug Nichols served as a missionary in India during the 1960’s. Though spending hours trying to pass out religious tracts on the streets, very few people responded to his work. Then, in 1967, he contracted Tuberculosis. While staying in a hospital specially designed for Tuberculosis patients, Nichols would wake up at night and cough as his lungs struggled to acquire enough air to breathe. On one particular night, as he was coughing, he noticed a man on the side of his bed leaning forward and falling back. The man did this for a good fifteen minutes, then rolled over on his back and cried himself back to sleep.
The next morning, when Nichols awoke, there was a terrible stench in the hospital ward. Upon smelling it, he realized that the man who had been on the side of his bed the night before had been trying to get to the bathroom but was too weak from Tuberculosis to get out of his bed. Upon waking to the awful smell, many of the other patients became very angry. They yelled at the man. They cursed him. Orderlies treated him roughly as they cleaned up the mess around his bed. One nurse even slapped him. When the hospital staff walked away, the man laid back down on his bed, covered his head with his pillow, and sobbed.
Nichols described what happened next to “World” magazine in the March 12, 1994 edition…
“The next night, I again awoke coughing. I noticed the man across the aisle sit up to again try to make his way to the washroom. However, still being so weak, he fell back whimpering as the night before. I was sick myself but before I realized what had happened, not knowing why I did it, I got out of my bed and went over to the old man. As I reached down and touched his shoulder, his eyes opened with a fearful questioning look. I simply smiled, put my arm under his head and neck, and my other arm under his legs, and picked him up.
Even though I was sick and weak, I was certainly stronger than he was. He was extremely light because of his old age and advanced TB. I walked down the hall to the washroom, which was really just a smelly, filthy small room with a hole in the floor. I stood behind him with my arms under his arms, holding him so he could take care of himself. After he finished, I picked him up and carried him back to his bed. As I began to lay him down, with my head next to his, he kissed me on the cheek, smiled, and said something which I suppose was “thank you.”
It was amazing what happened the next morning. One of the other patients whom I didn’t know woke me around 4:00 with a steaming cup of delicious Indian tea. He then made motions with his hands (he knew no English) indicating he wanted a tract. As the sun came up, some of the other patients began to approach, motioning that they would also like one of the booklets I had tried to distribute before. Throughout the day people came to me, asking for the Gospel booklets. This included the nurses, the hospital interns, the doctors, until everybody in the hospital had a tract, booklet, or Gospel of John. Over the next few days, several indicated they trusted Christ as Savior as a result of reading the Good News!”
In this beautiful story about sharing the gospel in an Indian hospital, Nichols beautifully portrayed how anger stifled the love in that ward. His gift of love and mercy, coupled with a rejection of anger, opened the doors to many beautiful changes in the souls around him.
Anger has a way of driving wedges between people. When it stays around too long, it festers and grows until bitterness, wrath, rage, and abusive language take over. As a follower of Jesus, you need to find ways to mitigate your anger and increase your love. You need to monitor your feelings, work through any issues, and seek the healing of God for any anger you possess. ANY ANGER YOU POSSESS!
Do you tend to hold onto your anger a little longer than spiritually healthy? Do you not realize the damage to the heart, body, and soul of an anger that festers too long? Even when you are right, even when you have been wronged, an anger that lasts for too long will eat YOU up from the inside out. Anger that festers is a poison best left to God to handle.
June 6
“Then the whole community began weeping aloud, and they cried all night. Their voices rose in a great chorus of protest against Moses and Aaron. “If only we had died in Egypt, or even here in the wilderness!” they complained.” (Numbers 14:1–2, NLT)
As one grows older, it is often common to romanticize the past. You look back on your life and get caught up in fond memories of good times. This nostalgic view of the past can bring forth a smile upon your face as you reminisce of days gone by. However, for some people this romanticized view of the past can become depressing or make one defeatist. If you get caught up in a bad kind of nostalgia, you might think that things will never be that good ever again. You might look at your life now and see only how your health has declined or you are no longer as capable, or you might discern that your weight has increased, or your face has more wrinkles. Some people can learn from the past or look fondly at the past. Others can be so caught up in the past that cannot see any good in their present situation. Spiritually, nostalgia can go either way.
In the scripture for today, the Israelites were encamped in the wilderness. Because the terrain was difficult and the food was scarce, the people began to reminisce about their lives in Egypt. In view of their present living conditions, they longed to be back in Egypt. Stuck in their pity party, they “cried all night” long (Numbers 14:1). Their romanticized view of life in Egypt made them “protest against Moses and Aaron”. They blamed their leaders and God for their present challenges (Numbers 14:2). Instead of remembering how God saving them from making bricks for Pharaoh, they only cared to complain about their present situation. Like spoiled children, their tantrum before God was recorded as a warning to all generations.
You see, once the Israelites began to romanticize their view of Egypt while blaming God for their difficult circumstances, their criticisms took an evil spiritual turn. Their dissatisfaction in the wilderness drove them to reject God’s great actions in Egypt. They no longer talked about the great 10 plagues or the parting of the Red Sea. Instead, all they could focus on was how wonderful it was in Egypt. Let’s be honest, it wasn’t all roses in Egypt. They were slaves in Egypt. They suffered greatly. Still, after dealing with the conditions of the wilderness, the people were caught up in their evil nostalgia. It led them to complain about God and the faithful who were in charge.
Nostalgia is defined as “a sentimental longing or wistful affection for the past”. When you get caught up in a rosy view of the past, it can manipulate your memories and change your view of what really happened. Some people are more susceptible to this. They look at the past with rose colored glasses wherein their actions seem loftier, and they can’t envision their own mistakes or failures or problems at the time. Caught up in this romanticized view, these people can sometimes become discontented with life or God or love or their wealth or health. This nostalgic type of sin can cause them to even reject the part God played in their safety or security or wisdom at the time.
It hit Darren hard when he was thirty-seven years old. He had always viewed his own father old when his father was forty. He didn’t want to be an “old forty”. He wanted to reclaim his youth. After a year when he had to buy new glasses for a deteriorating eyesight, stop jogging due to a bum knee, and buy some new clothes after he gained twenty pounds, Darren resolved himself to make some changes. He remembered how good he felt as the High School football star. He remembered how girls used to flock to his side at school events. Now, he was living with three teenage children who seemed to more trouble than they were worth and a wife who was fifty pounds heavier than when they married.
When Darren received a letter for his twentieth High School Reunion get-together, he made his mind up to look his best. He joined a local gym, lost twenty-five pounds, bought himself a brand new Corvette, and began to update his wardrobe to more modern tastes. When he went to the reunion, he looked great. He saw a woman there whom he dated in High School and began to flirt with her. She, being recently divorced, enjoyed the banter. It made her feel young again. Darren’s wife was absolutely shocked by her husband’s attitude and flirtations. She asked to leave the party. He refused. She left alone. From there, things went from bad to worse.
By the time Darren’s mid-life crisis was over, he had seriously damaged his marriage. His children had little respect for him. He was in debt up to his eyeballs. And he was miserable. Darren’s romanticized view of his past had driven a wedge between himself and his family. It caused him to spend more time at bars and night clubs than church. It ended up with him making a mess out of all he had accomplished up to that point in his life.
Upon reflecting on the scripture for today, John D. Barry wrote these words:
“Regret and nostalgia can destroy lives. They are mirrored ideas with the same pitfalls: neither can change the past, and both keep us from living in the present. When we live wishfully rather than interacting with the present, we’re bound to miss out and hurt others. Since other people don’t necessarily share our feelings about the past, they feel less important to us here and now. And indeed, we’re making them less important. We’re concerned instead with how things could have been or used to be.
This is precisely what happens after the Israelites flee Egypt: “Then all the community lifted up their voices, and the people wept during that night. And all the children of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron, and all the community said to them, ‘If only we had died in the land of Egypt or in this desert!’ ” (Num 14:1–2).
Nostalgia is dangerous: it causes us to forget the wretchedness of the past and exchange it for fond memories. We begin to focus on the good things and drift away from obedience in the process. Regret, too, is dangerous, as we wish we had never ended the good times but kept on living the life that was never good for us to begin with.” (Connect the Testaments; 2012)
Do you ever get a little too caught up in nostalgia? Do you like to complain a little too much about challenges in your life? Is it too easy to forget all that God has done for you in the past? Are you a little too prideful in your view of yourself? Be careful you don’t put on those rose-colored glasses. They can blind you from reality and God’s truth. They can cause you to complain when you should be thankful.
In the scripture for today, the Israelites were encamped in the wilderness. Because the terrain was difficult and the food was scarce, the people began to reminisce about their lives in Egypt. In view of their present living conditions, they longed to be back in Egypt. Stuck in their pity party, they “cried all night” long (Numbers 14:1). Their romanticized view of life in Egypt made them “protest against Moses and Aaron”. They blamed their leaders and God for their present challenges (Numbers 14:2). Instead of remembering how God saving them from making bricks for Pharaoh, they only cared to complain about their present situation. Like spoiled children, their tantrum before God was recorded as a warning to all generations.
You see, once the Israelites began to romanticize their view of Egypt while blaming God for their difficult circumstances, their criticisms took an evil spiritual turn. Their dissatisfaction in the wilderness drove them to reject God’s great actions in Egypt. They no longer talked about the great 10 plagues or the parting of the Red Sea. Instead, all they could focus on was how wonderful it was in Egypt. Let’s be honest, it wasn’t all roses in Egypt. They were slaves in Egypt. They suffered greatly. Still, after dealing with the conditions of the wilderness, the people were caught up in their evil nostalgia. It led them to complain about God and the faithful who were in charge.
Nostalgia is defined as “a sentimental longing or wistful affection for the past”. When you get caught up in a rosy view of the past, it can manipulate your memories and change your view of what really happened. Some people are more susceptible to this. They look at the past with rose colored glasses wherein their actions seem loftier, and they can’t envision their own mistakes or failures or problems at the time. Caught up in this romanticized view, these people can sometimes become discontented with life or God or love or their wealth or health. This nostalgic type of sin can cause them to even reject the part God played in their safety or security or wisdom at the time.
It hit Darren hard when he was thirty-seven years old. He had always viewed his own father old when his father was forty. He didn’t want to be an “old forty”. He wanted to reclaim his youth. After a year when he had to buy new glasses for a deteriorating eyesight, stop jogging due to a bum knee, and buy some new clothes after he gained twenty pounds, Darren resolved himself to make some changes. He remembered how good he felt as the High School football star. He remembered how girls used to flock to his side at school events. Now, he was living with three teenage children who seemed to more trouble than they were worth and a wife who was fifty pounds heavier than when they married.
When Darren received a letter for his twentieth High School Reunion get-together, he made his mind up to look his best. He joined a local gym, lost twenty-five pounds, bought himself a brand new Corvette, and began to update his wardrobe to more modern tastes. When he went to the reunion, he looked great. He saw a woman there whom he dated in High School and began to flirt with her. She, being recently divorced, enjoyed the banter. It made her feel young again. Darren’s wife was absolutely shocked by her husband’s attitude and flirtations. She asked to leave the party. He refused. She left alone. From there, things went from bad to worse.
By the time Darren’s mid-life crisis was over, he had seriously damaged his marriage. His children had little respect for him. He was in debt up to his eyeballs. And he was miserable. Darren’s romanticized view of his past had driven a wedge between himself and his family. It caused him to spend more time at bars and night clubs than church. It ended up with him making a mess out of all he had accomplished up to that point in his life.
Upon reflecting on the scripture for today, John D. Barry wrote these words:
“Regret and nostalgia can destroy lives. They are mirrored ideas with the same pitfalls: neither can change the past, and both keep us from living in the present. When we live wishfully rather than interacting with the present, we’re bound to miss out and hurt others. Since other people don’t necessarily share our feelings about the past, they feel less important to us here and now. And indeed, we’re making them less important. We’re concerned instead with how things could have been or used to be.
This is precisely what happens after the Israelites flee Egypt: “Then all the community lifted up their voices, and the people wept during that night. And all the children of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron, and all the community said to them, ‘If only we had died in the land of Egypt or in this desert!’ ” (Num 14:1–2).
Nostalgia is dangerous: it causes us to forget the wretchedness of the past and exchange it for fond memories. We begin to focus on the good things and drift away from obedience in the process. Regret, too, is dangerous, as we wish we had never ended the good times but kept on living the life that was never good for us to begin with.” (Connect the Testaments; 2012)
Do you ever get a little too caught up in nostalgia? Do you like to complain a little too much about challenges in your life? Is it too easy to forget all that God has done for you in the past? Are you a little too prideful in your view of yourself? Be careful you don’t put on those rose-colored glasses. They can blind you from reality and God’s truth. They can cause you to complain when you should be thankful.
June 8
“And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments.” (1 John 2:3, ESV)
Just before ascending into heaven, Jesus gave His final words in person to His disciples. The disciples were gathered around a mountain in Galilee. They were there to receive Jesus’ final instruction; His last words face to face to the group. In that moment, Jesus said the following, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18–20). I find it very important that Jesus’ last words to His beloved followers included a command to not only make disciples of all nations and baptize these new believers, but they were required to teach those new followers “to observe all that I have commanded”. True believers are not only those who become disciples nor those who are baptized. They are followers who do these things but then take the next step: they observe all Jesus’ commands. They obey all Jesus’ teachings.
I have pastored for decades. I have visited many churches, listened to thousands of sermons in my life. I’ve heard many calls for baptism. I’ve seen many come to the altar to become followers of Jesus. I’ve witnessed people profess their faith, confess their sin, and sing hymns with gusto. Thousands participated in communion services. However, only a few times have I seen worship services or bible studies dedicated to the topic of obedience to God. Upon questioning a few pastors and some laypeople from this web site, several noticed the same thing. Obedience seems to be a taboo topic, a topic that many pastors refrain from speaking about or studying in depth through targeted Bible Studies. Even the words, “Obey one another in Christ”, has been removed from many wedding ceremonies. In these modern times, some Christians feel too entitled to be told to submit or obey or serve.
At a Bible Study on 1 John 2:3, a pastor mentioned that people who “know Jesus” should “keep His commandments”. This started a long discussion on how people come to “know Jesus”. After a good discussion on this topic, the pastor asked if those gathered were good at “keeping or obeying Jesus’ commandments”. Not a person commented. Not one word was offered up by the people in the pews. They had lots to say about how great it was to know Jesus but had nothing to add when it came to how to obey Jesus.
John MacArthur, in his book Strength for Today, commented on 1 John 2:3 with the following words:
“True believers obey God’s commandments... How can you determine if you are a true Christian? Not by sentiment, but by obedience. If you desire to obey God out of gratitude for all Christ has done for you, and if you see that desire producing an overall pattern of obedience, you have passed an important test indicating the presence of saving faith.” For MacArthur, true Christians are determined not by their knowledge of Jesus’ words or commands but by whether they obey those commands. Obedience is key to faith in Jesus. Obedience is required to be faithful. Obedience separates true Christians from religious actors.
At a heated argument during a committee meeting, two members raised their voices to be heard. They were each upset about problems with the Preschool program. One explained that the children were making so much noise in their classrooms and in the halls that the floor above couldn’t be utilized during school times for church meetings. Another complained that the cost of the Preschool program was sucking up too much of the church budget. Two parents of preschool children became upset and started arguing with the two who complained. Then, one member of the committee turned and said to the pastor, “Well, don’t just sit there. What should we do?”
The pastor thought for a moment, then just said, “Obey God!” One of complainers shot back, “Don’t tell me what to do!” That started everyone arguing or defending or complaining. So, the pastor stood up and opened his Bible and read, “By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey His commandments.” (1 John 5:2, ESV). Suddenly, everyone grew quiet. The pastor then remarked, “Several times, Jesus told His disciples to observe or obey His commandments. My hope is that this committee doesn’t focus only on the messes or the noise or the problems of the Preschool. Instead, we need to focus on obeying Jesus at this meeting.” Thereafter, the meeting got back on track, thankfully!
The Apostle John, in our scripture for today, mentioned the requirement that we “keep” Jesus’ commandments. The word “keep” in the original Greek means to “keep in view”, “watch over”, or “to take note”. In order to obey Jesus’ commandments, you need to keep them constantly in view. You need to observe them regularly. You can’t just know them. You need to utilize them. You need to follow them. You need to submit to their intent. Can you do that no matter what?
I have pastored for decades. I have visited many churches, listened to thousands of sermons in my life. I’ve heard many calls for baptism. I’ve seen many come to the altar to become followers of Jesus. I’ve witnessed people profess their faith, confess their sin, and sing hymns with gusto. Thousands participated in communion services. However, only a few times have I seen worship services or bible studies dedicated to the topic of obedience to God. Upon questioning a few pastors and some laypeople from this web site, several noticed the same thing. Obedience seems to be a taboo topic, a topic that many pastors refrain from speaking about or studying in depth through targeted Bible Studies. Even the words, “Obey one another in Christ”, has been removed from many wedding ceremonies. In these modern times, some Christians feel too entitled to be told to submit or obey or serve.
At a Bible Study on 1 John 2:3, a pastor mentioned that people who “know Jesus” should “keep His commandments”. This started a long discussion on how people come to “know Jesus”. After a good discussion on this topic, the pastor asked if those gathered were good at “keeping or obeying Jesus’ commandments”. Not a person commented. Not one word was offered up by the people in the pews. They had lots to say about how great it was to know Jesus but had nothing to add when it came to how to obey Jesus.
John MacArthur, in his book Strength for Today, commented on 1 John 2:3 with the following words:
“True believers obey God’s commandments... How can you determine if you are a true Christian? Not by sentiment, but by obedience. If you desire to obey God out of gratitude for all Christ has done for you, and if you see that desire producing an overall pattern of obedience, you have passed an important test indicating the presence of saving faith.” For MacArthur, true Christians are determined not by their knowledge of Jesus’ words or commands but by whether they obey those commands. Obedience is key to faith in Jesus. Obedience is required to be faithful. Obedience separates true Christians from religious actors.
At a heated argument during a committee meeting, two members raised their voices to be heard. They were each upset about problems with the Preschool program. One explained that the children were making so much noise in their classrooms and in the halls that the floor above couldn’t be utilized during school times for church meetings. Another complained that the cost of the Preschool program was sucking up too much of the church budget. Two parents of preschool children became upset and started arguing with the two who complained. Then, one member of the committee turned and said to the pastor, “Well, don’t just sit there. What should we do?”
The pastor thought for a moment, then just said, “Obey God!” One of complainers shot back, “Don’t tell me what to do!” That started everyone arguing or defending or complaining. So, the pastor stood up and opened his Bible and read, “By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey His commandments.” (1 John 5:2, ESV). Suddenly, everyone grew quiet. The pastor then remarked, “Several times, Jesus told His disciples to observe or obey His commandments. My hope is that this committee doesn’t focus only on the messes or the noise or the problems of the Preschool. Instead, we need to focus on obeying Jesus at this meeting.” Thereafter, the meeting got back on track, thankfully!
The Apostle John, in our scripture for today, mentioned the requirement that we “keep” Jesus’ commandments. The word “keep” in the original Greek means to “keep in view”, “watch over”, or “to take note”. In order to obey Jesus’ commandments, you need to keep them constantly in view. You need to observe them regularly. You can’t just know them. You need to utilize them. You need to follow them. You need to submit to their intent. Can you do that no matter what?
June 10
“But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives…” (2 Peter 3:10–11, NIV84)
Because Jesus lived and died for me, I find myself filled with love for His sacrifice. I think of Him on the cross dying because of a deep love for me. I picture Him being ridiculed by the Pharisees for loving sinners such as me, and I am moved to tears. Every now and then, I look back on my life and ask, “What kind of person have I been? Have I loved Jesus enough? Was I faithful enough?” Today’s scripture echoes these same feelings. Peter wrote that since our time on this world is limited, “What kind of person should you be?” (2 Peter 3:11).
Peter’s words remind each of us that the end of the world, “the day of the Lord”, will come “like a thief”. Paul also said this very thing. He noted in a letter to the Thessalonian church that the day of the Lord, the end of the world, would come like a “thief in the night” (1 Thessalonians 5:2). The end will be unexpected. When your end comes, will you be ready? Will your life exhibit the love of God in Christ? Will your love of others be your legacy? Will sharing and caring be your hallmarks?
“Some years ago, a young girl was very sick and not expected to recover. Because of her love for Jesus, she was troubled that she had not been able to do more for Him in her short life. Her pastor suggested that she make a list of people in their little town who needed Christ and pray that they might put their faith in Him. She took his advice, made a list, and prayed often for each person.
Sometime later God began to stir a revival in the village. The girl heard of the people who were coming to Christ and prayed even more. As she heard reports, she checked off the names of those who had been led to the Lord.
After the girl died, a prayer list with the names of 56 people was found under her pillow. All had put their faith in Christ—the last one on the night before her death.
Such is the power of definite, specific, fervent prayer. Do you have a prayer list?” (Henry G. Bosch, “Our Daily Bread”, March-May, 1996, reading for April 3).
Jesus suffered and died to save your soul. What have you done to show your love in return? What things in your life can you point to concretely that have made a difference? Will the love of God and respect for our Savior keep growing because you were blessed with the gospel? Have you shared the gospel with others out of love and respect for the King of Kings?
I was reading a reflection of a pastor the other day. In that writing, the pastor commented that his soul was weighed down by all the neglect he has seen in the world. When I read this, I thought he would mention the poor who go to bed hungry or those who live without the love of family. Instead, he listed off the many Christians who neglect others. He mentioned the wealthy Christians who hoard their money while other Christians nearby go hungry. He mentioned those who neglect to even read scripture. He mentioned those Christians in name only who go for long periods without a serious moment of prayer with God the Father. In the end, the pastor mourned how too many Christians neglect not only their relationship with God but also their own spiritual life. They neglect giving of themselves in the service of Christ. Are you one who neglects a commitment to Christ? Do you neglect to show love for the one who died on the cross for you? As our scripture for today asks, “What kind of person ought you be?”
While in counseling, a man was asked to contact three family members and have them fill out a form in private and enclose it in an envelope. He was to bring these three envelopes back with him to the next session. When he did as requested, the counselor set aside the three envelopes and asked the man to sit down and answer a few questions. The counselor handed him a form to fill out. In it, he was to describe himself using five descriptive words. The man wrote down that he was dependable, honest, caring, hard-working, and thoughtful. After reviewing the man’s descriptions, the counselor opened the three envelopes. In these, the counselor had asked the three people to privately give five descriptive words to describe the counselee. They described the man using words such as driven, thoughtless, angry, Ok, nice, and demanding. The lists of the man and those of the three others did not agree. The counselor then commented to the counselee, “Who you are and who you should be are not the same. How you view yourself is not always how the world views you.”
So, how do you view your time so far on this earth? What would Jesus think of your contributions and love and faithfulness? What kind of person should you be? Remember, your end is coming like a thief in the night, completely unexpected. What you do today may be of ultimate importance!
Peter’s words remind each of us that the end of the world, “the day of the Lord”, will come “like a thief”. Paul also said this very thing. He noted in a letter to the Thessalonian church that the day of the Lord, the end of the world, would come like a “thief in the night” (1 Thessalonians 5:2). The end will be unexpected. When your end comes, will you be ready? Will your life exhibit the love of God in Christ? Will your love of others be your legacy? Will sharing and caring be your hallmarks?
“Some years ago, a young girl was very sick and not expected to recover. Because of her love for Jesus, she was troubled that she had not been able to do more for Him in her short life. Her pastor suggested that she make a list of people in their little town who needed Christ and pray that they might put their faith in Him. She took his advice, made a list, and prayed often for each person.
Sometime later God began to stir a revival in the village. The girl heard of the people who were coming to Christ and prayed even more. As she heard reports, she checked off the names of those who had been led to the Lord.
After the girl died, a prayer list with the names of 56 people was found under her pillow. All had put their faith in Christ—the last one on the night before her death.
Such is the power of definite, specific, fervent prayer. Do you have a prayer list?” (Henry G. Bosch, “Our Daily Bread”, March-May, 1996, reading for April 3).
Jesus suffered and died to save your soul. What have you done to show your love in return? What things in your life can you point to concretely that have made a difference? Will the love of God and respect for our Savior keep growing because you were blessed with the gospel? Have you shared the gospel with others out of love and respect for the King of Kings?
I was reading a reflection of a pastor the other day. In that writing, the pastor commented that his soul was weighed down by all the neglect he has seen in the world. When I read this, I thought he would mention the poor who go to bed hungry or those who live without the love of family. Instead, he listed off the many Christians who neglect others. He mentioned the wealthy Christians who hoard their money while other Christians nearby go hungry. He mentioned those who neglect to even read scripture. He mentioned those Christians in name only who go for long periods without a serious moment of prayer with God the Father. In the end, the pastor mourned how too many Christians neglect not only their relationship with God but also their own spiritual life. They neglect giving of themselves in the service of Christ. Are you one who neglects a commitment to Christ? Do you neglect to show love for the one who died on the cross for you? As our scripture for today asks, “What kind of person ought you be?”
While in counseling, a man was asked to contact three family members and have them fill out a form in private and enclose it in an envelope. He was to bring these three envelopes back with him to the next session. When he did as requested, the counselor set aside the three envelopes and asked the man to sit down and answer a few questions. The counselor handed him a form to fill out. In it, he was to describe himself using five descriptive words. The man wrote down that he was dependable, honest, caring, hard-working, and thoughtful. After reviewing the man’s descriptions, the counselor opened the three envelopes. In these, the counselor had asked the three people to privately give five descriptive words to describe the counselee. They described the man using words such as driven, thoughtless, angry, Ok, nice, and demanding. The lists of the man and those of the three others did not agree. The counselor then commented to the counselee, “Who you are and who you should be are not the same. How you view yourself is not always how the world views you.”
So, how do you view your time so far on this earth? What would Jesus think of your contributions and love and faithfulness? What kind of person should you be? Remember, your end is coming like a thief in the night, completely unexpected. What you do today may be of ultimate importance!
June 12
“Do not love the world or the things in the world. The love of the Father is not in those who love the world;” (1 John 2:15, NRSV)
In His famous prayer recorded in the gospel of John, Jesus asked that His followers would be “in the world, but not of it” (John 17). Jesus believed that if the world captured the imagination and love of His followers, they would be seduced by its wonders and swayed by its desires. That is why in that same prayer, Jesus asked that despite keeping His followers in the world, they would not become coopted by “the evil one”, Satan (John 17:15). Jesus knew from His own history with Satan, that the Evil One was very good at manipulating worldly issues and pressures and prizes in order to manipulate souls away from Almighty God. By doing so, the followers of Christ would be compromising their souls, falling prey to the wiles of Satan.
A famous pastor and Theologian (A.W. Tozer) said this about compromising your faith in worldly ways: “Christianity today is so entangled with this present world that millions never guess how radically they have missed the New Testament pattern.
Compromise is everywhere—but actually no real union between the world and the Church is possible. When the Church joins up with the world it is the true Church no longer but only a pitiful hybrid thing, an object of smiling contempt to the world, and an abomination to the Lord!” (Mornings with Tozer)
How do you recognize when worldly issues and delights have captivated your soul? Start by looking at your thoughts. When you get up in the morning with a desire to enjoy the fruits of the earth without a thought to God’s blessings, be careful. It may be that your enchantment with earthly things is foremost in your mind. If your sexual desires have you pining after someone so badly that he or she is all you seem to think about, be warned. Your mind is being manipulated by hormones, sensual urges, and lusts. If your looks matter more to you than your work for the Lord, watch out. Your appearance, instead of God, may begin to define your worth. If you have the desire to make the most money possible so that you may live a life of luxury and don’t care what you have to do to achieve it, your faith has already been compromised. When you feel a strong pull to have the latest and greatest gadget or vehicle or a bigger house because you want it more than need it, your faith is already in danger. The more that earthly goods, services, and lusts control your thoughts, the greater the chance that your soul has already been compromised. These lifestyle choices can so easily ensnare you!
Robin Bain writes about Hollywood, “The Biz”. She has a blog dedicated to landing work in Hollywood. On May 14, 2016, she wrote the article, “Surviving in Hollywood by Selling Your Soul”. In that article, she describes a young woman “fresh off the Greyhound Bus from the Midwest” who is at a Hollywood party of A-listers. This is what she wrote:
“Scattered industry professionals linger at a backyard barbecue in West Hollywood, California. Aspiring actors, actresses, models, writers, directors — everyone eager to network at the social event; hoping for the ever-elusive “connection” that could possibly lead to a real role in something, legitimate representation, financing – anything to lend a boost to achieve the seemingly impossible….
Skimming the surface of a kidney shaped pool, blood red manicured toes generate rolling ripples on the water. Nursing a beer straight from the bottle, a lithesome, 20-something, red head glances back at the party of Hollywood hopefuls… uninterested in the possible networking opportunities; she finishes off her beer and continues to play with the water.”
This woman has gained the right to be at this exclusive party because she has made “deals” off the books. She has exchanged sexual favors to a fifty-year-old man who has connections. In exchange for living at his place, “rent free”, she will be introduced to the movers and shakers of Hollywood. All she needs to do is be at the beck and call of this man who will use her for his own purposes.
How has this young woman fallen prey to the world? She is willing to throw away her morals and values for a shot at the celebrity life. She is using her sexual favors in exchange for potential job offers. She is compromising the faith she grew up having in the hope of becoming famous. Sadly, this usually ends badly, as do all worldly compromises.
You may look down on this young woman in Hollywood. You may consider her worldly choices as indicative of no faith. Be careful. There might be more subtle worldly ways that have taken hold in your heart or mind or life. You may not have given out sexual favors, but have you used sex to manipulate someone? Have you ever set aside your values to make some money? Have you ever done something unrighteous in order to achieve a goal? Compromising with the world is so dangerous but so easy to accommodate in your life.
Being in this world brings its own temptations. Being human, you will sin. Jesus prayed that His disciples did not fall prey to the evil one, to Satan, by compromising their faith in worldly ways. Examine your thoughts. Are there worldly thoughts that have been creeping in from time to time? Are there worldly lusts that seem to enchant and captivate your dreams? You can’t love God and love the world at the same time (1 John 2:15b)!
I have found that focusing on God and on mission opportunities is a great way to regain a faithful outlook on what is important in life. I have found that retreats and camping opportunities may separate us from worldly pressures just enough to make us see the holy in everyday life. If you find yourself getting too caught up in worldly desires, remove yourself from them for a while. Meet up with God. Take time to rediscover a joy that is not based on worldly treasures. You just might rediscover yourself along the way.
A famous pastor and Theologian (A.W. Tozer) said this about compromising your faith in worldly ways: “Christianity today is so entangled with this present world that millions never guess how radically they have missed the New Testament pattern.
Compromise is everywhere—but actually no real union between the world and the Church is possible. When the Church joins up with the world it is the true Church no longer but only a pitiful hybrid thing, an object of smiling contempt to the world, and an abomination to the Lord!” (Mornings with Tozer)
How do you recognize when worldly issues and delights have captivated your soul? Start by looking at your thoughts. When you get up in the morning with a desire to enjoy the fruits of the earth without a thought to God’s blessings, be careful. It may be that your enchantment with earthly things is foremost in your mind. If your sexual desires have you pining after someone so badly that he or she is all you seem to think about, be warned. Your mind is being manipulated by hormones, sensual urges, and lusts. If your looks matter more to you than your work for the Lord, watch out. Your appearance, instead of God, may begin to define your worth. If you have the desire to make the most money possible so that you may live a life of luxury and don’t care what you have to do to achieve it, your faith has already been compromised. When you feel a strong pull to have the latest and greatest gadget or vehicle or a bigger house because you want it more than need it, your faith is already in danger. The more that earthly goods, services, and lusts control your thoughts, the greater the chance that your soul has already been compromised. These lifestyle choices can so easily ensnare you!
Robin Bain writes about Hollywood, “The Biz”. She has a blog dedicated to landing work in Hollywood. On May 14, 2016, she wrote the article, “Surviving in Hollywood by Selling Your Soul”. In that article, she describes a young woman “fresh off the Greyhound Bus from the Midwest” who is at a Hollywood party of A-listers. This is what she wrote:
“Scattered industry professionals linger at a backyard barbecue in West Hollywood, California. Aspiring actors, actresses, models, writers, directors — everyone eager to network at the social event; hoping for the ever-elusive “connection” that could possibly lead to a real role in something, legitimate representation, financing – anything to lend a boost to achieve the seemingly impossible….
Skimming the surface of a kidney shaped pool, blood red manicured toes generate rolling ripples on the water. Nursing a beer straight from the bottle, a lithesome, 20-something, red head glances back at the party of Hollywood hopefuls… uninterested in the possible networking opportunities; she finishes off her beer and continues to play with the water.”
This woman has gained the right to be at this exclusive party because she has made “deals” off the books. She has exchanged sexual favors to a fifty-year-old man who has connections. In exchange for living at his place, “rent free”, she will be introduced to the movers and shakers of Hollywood. All she needs to do is be at the beck and call of this man who will use her for his own purposes.
How has this young woman fallen prey to the world? She is willing to throw away her morals and values for a shot at the celebrity life. She is using her sexual favors in exchange for potential job offers. She is compromising the faith she grew up having in the hope of becoming famous. Sadly, this usually ends badly, as do all worldly compromises.
You may look down on this young woman in Hollywood. You may consider her worldly choices as indicative of no faith. Be careful. There might be more subtle worldly ways that have taken hold in your heart or mind or life. You may not have given out sexual favors, but have you used sex to manipulate someone? Have you ever set aside your values to make some money? Have you ever done something unrighteous in order to achieve a goal? Compromising with the world is so dangerous but so easy to accommodate in your life.
Being in this world brings its own temptations. Being human, you will sin. Jesus prayed that His disciples did not fall prey to the evil one, to Satan, by compromising their faith in worldly ways. Examine your thoughts. Are there worldly thoughts that have been creeping in from time to time? Are there worldly lusts that seem to enchant and captivate your dreams? You can’t love God and love the world at the same time (1 John 2:15b)!
I have found that focusing on God and on mission opportunities is a great way to regain a faithful outlook on what is important in life. I have found that retreats and camping opportunities may separate us from worldly pressures just enough to make us see the holy in everyday life. If you find yourself getting too caught up in worldly desires, remove yourself from them for a while. Meet up with God. Take time to rediscover a joy that is not based on worldly treasures. You just might rediscover yourself along the way.
June 14
“You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head.” (Psalm 139:5, NLT)
“While very ill, John Knox, the founder of the Presbyterian Church in Scotland, called to his wife and said, “Read me that Scripture where I first cast my anchor.” After he listened to the beautiful prayer of Jesus recorded in John 17, he seemed to forget his weakness. He began to pray, interceding earnestly for his fellowmen. He prayed for the ungodly who had thus far rejected the gospel. He pleaded in behalf of people who had been recently converted. And he requested protection for the Lord’s servants, many of whom were facing persecution. As Knox prayed, his spirit went home to be with the Lord. The man of whom Queen Mary had said, “I fear his prayers more than I do the armies of my enemies,” ministered through prayer until the moment of his death.” (“Our Daily Bread”, April 11, 2002)
John Knox wanted protection for the faithful followers in Scotland. Persecution of those who went against certain religious norms was growing. He had to pray. He wanted God to watch over the people, especially those who were recently converted and those who were vulnerable because they had no faith. Based on this true story from “Our Daily Bread”, Knox sought the protection of God for those in Scotland even with his dying breath. To Knox, God’s protection was that important.
We often fail to realize how God protects us and watches over us. We fail to acknowledge the amazing power of God that daily guards our ways. Why? We should not. Sometimes, though, it helps to be reminded that God is our protector. While speaking with Abram in Genesis 15, Abram was informed not to fear that moment in his life because God was “his shield” (Genesis 15:1). In dangerous times, the prophet Isaiah was reminded that he need not be afraid because God would support him with a “victorious right hand” (Isaiah 41:10). In Ephesians, the Apostle Paul taught about the spiritual armor God gives the faithful with which they can battle against evil in the world (Ephesians 6). Paul even mentions that with this armor, the faithful can battle Satan himself. With these and many other passages, it is clear that God not only wants to protect us, God wants to watch over the many moments of our lives. God does not leave us defenseless against evils or dangers or threats.
While getting ready for worship one Sunday morning, a young woman in her thirties approached me. She had a smile on her face. There was a lightness to her steps. She said to me, “I had a God-experience this week!” Excited about her giddiness at the event, I asked her to elaborate. She went on to say that her car had broken down on a deserted section of road. The temperature was over 90 degrees. She was worried. Instead of jumping up and investigating why the car had just stopped running and coasted to a stop, she first decided to say a prayer. She opened the window of the car door next to her, closed her eyes, and prayed to God for help. Then, she got up and opened the hood to see what was wrong.
Five minutes later, a big guy on a motorcycle drove up. The woman said to God quietly, “Couldn’t you have sent me someone a little less scary!” When the motorcycle stopped, the man looked at the car and diagnosed that something was wrong in the electrical system. There was no spark at the spark plugs. The man said off-hand, “I think it’s the ECU, Electronic Control Unit, on this old car. However, we are miles from a parts place. I’ll have to drive you to somewhere where you can get cell service.” At that very moment, a light bulb went off in the woman’s brain. Her husband had told her that there was a problem with these cars and their ECU’s. He had bought and stored 2 in the trunk just in case one overheated, which they were prone to do. The woman walked to her trunk and opened it, revealing an ECU in the original parts case. She handed it to the man and said, “You mean one of these?” The biker was dumbfounded. The biker and the woman used some tools from her trunk to change out the old ECU and the car started right up. Just before she left the biker with his jaw agape at what had happened, she said to him, “Thanks for being my angel and helping me today!” He couldn’t think of a word in response. As she drove away, he just stared at the back of her car.
There are millions of large and small ways that God will watch over your comings and goings today. As it says in our scripture, God “goes before me and follows me.” (Psalm 139:5). God’s hand of blessing (the original Hebrew hints at God’s protection) is upon you. Don’t fear God won’t be present in your life. Count on it! No matter what happens, God will be watching over what you do, what you need, where you are, and how you react. Our God loves to be your protector, your shield, your spiritual armor. All you need to do is rely on Him from moment to moment and you’ll be in good hands. Heavenly hands!
John Knox wanted protection for the faithful followers in Scotland. Persecution of those who went against certain religious norms was growing. He had to pray. He wanted God to watch over the people, especially those who were recently converted and those who were vulnerable because they had no faith. Based on this true story from “Our Daily Bread”, Knox sought the protection of God for those in Scotland even with his dying breath. To Knox, God’s protection was that important.
We often fail to realize how God protects us and watches over us. We fail to acknowledge the amazing power of God that daily guards our ways. Why? We should not. Sometimes, though, it helps to be reminded that God is our protector. While speaking with Abram in Genesis 15, Abram was informed not to fear that moment in his life because God was “his shield” (Genesis 15:1). In dangerous times, the prophet Isaiah was reminded that he need not be afraid because God would support him with a “victorious right hand” (Isaiah 41:10). In Ephesians, the Apostle Paul taught about the spiritual armor God gives the faithful with which they can battle against evil in the world (Ephesians 6). Paul even mentions that with this armor, the faithful can battle Satan himself. With these and many other passages, it is clear that God not only wants to protect us, God wants to watch over the many moments of our lives. God does not leave us defenseless against evils or dangers or threats.
While getting ready for worship one Sunday morning, a young woman in her thirties approached me. She had a smile on her face. There was a lightness to her steps. She said to me, “I had a God-experience this week!” Excited about her giddiness at the event, I asked her to elaborate. She went on to say that her car had broken down on a deserted section of road. The temperature was over 90 degrees. She was worried. Instead of jumping up and investigating why the car had just stopped running and coasted to a stop, she first decided to say a prayer. She opened the window of the car door next to her, closed her eyes, and prayed to God for help. Then, she got up and opened the hood to see what was wrong.
Five minutes later, a big guy on a motorcycle drove up. The woman said to God quietly, “Couldn’t you have sent me someone a little less scary!” When the motorcycle stopped, the man looked at the car and diagnosed that something was wrong in the electrical system. There was no spark at the spark plugs. The man said off-hand, “I think it’s the ECU, Electronic Control Unit, on this old car. However, we are miles from a parts place. I’ll have to drive you to somewhere where you can get cell service.” At that very moment, a light bulb went off in the woman’s brain. Her husband had told her that there was a problem with these cars and their ECU’s. He had bought and stored 2 in the trunk just in case one overheated, which they were prone to do. The woman walked to her trunk and opened it, revealing an ECU in the original parts case. She handed it to the man and said, “You mean one of these?” The biker was dumbfounded. The biker and the woman used some tools from her trunk to change out the old ECU and the car started right up. Just before she left the biker with his jaw agape at what had happened, she said to him, “Thanks for being my angel and helping me today!” He couldn’t think of a word in response. As she drove away, he just stared at the back of her car.
There are millions of large and small ways that God will watch over your comings and goings today. As it says in our scripture, God “goes before me and follows me.” (Psalm 139:5). God’s hand of blessing (the original Hebrew hints at God’s protection) is upon you. Don’t fear God won’t be present in your life. Count on it! No matter what happens, God will be watching over what you do, what you need, where you are, and how you react. Our God loves to be your protector, your shield, your spiritual armor. All you need to do is rely on Him from moment to moment and you’ll be in good hands. Heavenly hands!
June 16
“But even before I was born, God chose me and called me by his marvelous grace. Then it pleased him to reveal his Son to me so that I would proclaim the Good News about Jesus to the Gentiles. When this happened, I did not rush out to consult with any human being.” (Galatians 1:15–16, NLT)
In describing his own path to God, the Apostle Paul in the scripture above explained his position: “Even before I (Paul) was born, God chose me and called me….” (Galatians 1:15). God had a plan for Paul’s life even before it had begun. God had hopes and dreams for Paul. God had a vision of what Paul could do and was planning to help him complete the tasks before him. Paul did not need others to confirm this calling of God (Galatians 1:16). He knew it was a God thing. God wanted Paul to “proclaim the Good News of Jesus to the Gentiles”. God had big plans for Paul, even before Paul was even aware of this fact.
Paul was not the first person in the Bible to be chosen by God before he was even born to accomplish something special. The plan for Jesus to be the Messiah is found in many places, especially places like Isaiah 53 and Psalm 22. These passages occurred hundreds of years before Jesus’ birth. They confirm Jesus’ life was planned to perfection. Jeremiah was told by God that before he was “formed in the womb”, God “appointed him to be a prophet to the nations” (Jeremiah 1:5). People of the Bible like Abraham, Isaac, Isaiah, Joseph, and so many more were sent by God with a purpose. God had a plan for their lives. God had dreams of what they could do. God had high hopes with them all.
Not everyone is given a glimpse into what God has in store for them. Some people take years to find their true calling. Some never grasp their purpose in this world. Some don’t care what God wanted them to achieve, because they don’t care about anything spiritual or holy. However, some people are blessed to realize that they were sent by God to this world with a holy purpose. They have a calling. Maybe it was to save one important soul. Maybe it was to care for someone. There will probably be a number of reasons God sent you. Have you ever stopped for a moment to realize why God specifically sent you into this world at this day and time, in your place? Have you ever felt like God put you in a specific place at a perfect time to do something important in another person’s life?
I received the call at 4:30am. I was tired. I was groggy when I answered the phone. It was a call from a man I had befriended. We both had similar interests and hobbies. We enjoyed going for walks and talking about God. I did not expect his call. What he told me next chilled me to my core, “Our baby is coming early. Something is wrong with the pregnancy. My wife is with the doctor now. There is blood everywhere.” I got directions to the hospital. Hurriedly, I got dressed and ran to my car. I was off to the hospital in the clothes from the day before but within only five minutes. I knew this family was in trouble.
Five minutes before I arrived at the hospital, the doctor pronounced the baby deceased. The doctor broke the news to the parents just after I arrived. It was their first child. They had wanted him for years. Now, he was gone. I spent several hours with them, grieving their loss, praying for strength. We had a memorial service for the baby a few days later. Throughout the whole ordeal, I encouraged them, walked with them, helped them with the decisions, held them through their tears.
Two months later, the couple came to me to say they were moving. He got a job in another state. We spent the next few days eating together. I helped them pack for the move. A day before they left, the man said to me, “I believe God sent you to be there for us during this time. I am very thankful for that.” I, too, believe that. I only knew them for a few months. I can’t remember now where they moved to or what happened to them. What I do know is that during those extremely difficult days, God placed me in their lives to help them grieve, to give them hope, to stand with them, to cry with them, to show them love.
God will put you in the lives of others at specific times for special reasons. God will cause you to be at certain places at certain times. It is all part of God’s plan for your life. God has hopes and dreams for your life. God has things HE wishes you to do. There are people who need your faith. There are those who need you. How well have you followed the leanings of God? For whom have you been sent into this world?
I believe you were destined to read this. I believe God has a plan for your remaining days. You may not know all the reasons God sent you into this world, but I hope you know some. What I am sure of is that some day you will know a lot more. I believe God will reveal to you some day why you were sent into this world. God will reveal some of the plans HE had for you. My hope and prayer are that when these plans are made clear to you that you can look back with joy that on the day God sent you with a purpose, you followed through beautifully. On the day someone needed you, you were there.
Paul was not the first person in the Bible to be chosen by God before he was even born to accomplish something special. The plan for Jesus to be the Messiah is found in many places, especially places like Isaiah 53 and Psalm 22. These passages occurred hundreds of years before Jesus’ birth. They confirm Jesus’ life was planned to perfection. Jeremiah was told by God that before he was “formed in the womb”, God “appointed him to be a prophet to the nations” (Jeremiah 1:5). People of the Bible like Abraham, Isaac, Isaiah, Joseph, and so many more were sent by God with a purpose. God had a plan for their lives. God had dreams of what they could do. God had high hopes with them all.
Not everyone is given a glimpse into what God has in store for them. Some people take years to find their true calling. Some never grasp their purpose in this world. Some don’t care what God wanted them to achieve, because they don’t care about anything spiritual or holy. However, some people are blessed to realize that they were sent by God to this world with a holy purpose. They have a calling. Maybe it was to save one important soul. Maybe it was to care for someone. There will probably be a number of reasons God sent you. Have you ever stopped for a moment to realize why God specifically sent you into this world at this day and time, in your place? Have you ever felt like God put you in a specific place at a perfect time to do something important in another person’s life?
I received the call at 4:30am. I was tired. I was groggy when I answered the phone. It was a call from a man I had befriended. We both had similar interests and hobbies. We enjoyed going for walks and talking about God. I did not expect his call. What he told me next chilled me to my core, “Our baby is coming early. Something is wrong with the pregnancy. My wife is with the doctor now. There is blood everywhere.” I got directions to the hospital. Hurriedly, I got dressed and ran to my car. I was off to the hospital in the clothes from the day before but within only five minutes. I knew this family was in trouble.
Five minutes before I arrived at the hospital, the doctor pronounced the baby deceased. The doctor broke the news to the parents just after I arrived. It was their first child. They had wanted him for years. Now, he was gone. I spent several hours with them, grieving their loss, praying for strength. We had a memorial service for the baby a few days later. Throughout the whole ordeal, I encouraged them, walked with them, helped them with the decisions, held them through their tears.
Two months later, the couple came to me to say they were moving. He got a job in another state. We spent the next few days eating together. I helped them pack for the move. A day before they left, the man said to me, “I believe God sent you to be there for us during this time. I am very thankful for that.” I, too, believe that. I only knew them for a few months. I can’t remember now where they moved to or what happened to them. What I do know is that during those extremely difficult days, God placed me in their lives to help them grieve, to give them hope, to stand with them, to cry with them, to show them love.
God will put you in the lives of others at specific times for special reasons. God will cause you to be at certain places at certain times. It is all part of God’s plan for your life. God has hopes and dreams for your life. God has things HE wishes you to do. There are people who need your faith. There are those who need you. How well have you followed the leanings of God? For whom have you been sent into this world?
I believe you were destined to read this. I believe God has a plan for your remaining days. You may not know all the reasons God sent you into this world, but I hope you know some. What I am sure of is that some day you will know a lot more. I believe God will reveal to you some day why you were sent into this world. God will reveal some of the plans HE had for you. My hope and prayer are that when these plans are made clear to you that you can look back with joy that on the day God sent you with a purpose, you followed through beautifully. On the day someone needed you, you were there.
June 18
“At that time Jesus prayed this prayer: “O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike.” (Matthew 11:25, NLT)
Oswald Chambers wrote an interesting warning. Though the Bible is full of wisdom teachings and praises those who are wise and upright before the Lord, Chambers gave a warning to those who want to be wise without the influence of God. He said it simply, “Beware of becoming wise and prudent” (My Utmost for His Highest). Chambers found that those who do not begin their understanding of life with obedience to God often use their wisdom for all the wrong things. I have seen this happen in many churches. Young persons get a college degree and soon think they know how to run a church or business. A woman gets to be the head of a committee and soon uses her “wisdom” to run the show, leaving others to follow her lead or get out of the way. I’ve met many college professors, who upon attaining their PhD, endeavor to question everything. Many eventually question their way right out of faith in God.
There is a difference between God’s wisdom and human wisdom. Too often, especially in the church, these two concepts are seen as equals. I once heard a pastor proclaim, “I just can’t wrap my head around how God can allow human suffering, therefore human suffering must always be a bad thing.” Trust me, it is not always a bad thing. I’ve seen human suffering soften the most hardened soul. I ‘ve witnessed human suffering bring a person back to Christ when nothing else had worked. All human suffering hurts, but not all human suffering is bad. In the same manner, human wisdom is good, unless it is divorced from godly obedience. Without a godly foundation, human wisdom can cause all kinds of evil in the world.
Many people don’t know that Joseph Stalin, the notorious Russian leader, grew up in the church. He attended church school in his hometown of Gori. He even attended Tiflis Seminary when he considered ministry in the Russian Orthodox Church. Then, Stalin came under the influence of Lenin, Bolshevism, Socialism, and atheism. His religious ideals and belief in God were jettisoned as he chose to follow a revolutionary ideal. He studied famous works by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, both popular in the day. He read widely from philosophers, even Plato. The more he moved away from God and the more he was grounded in human philosophy and political theory, the more cruel and violent he became. It is believed that Stalin personally ordered the mass murder of as many as sixty million people. He was never able to see the wisdom of God, but he certainly understood the influence of philosophy and political theory. He ruined whole generations of human beings.
If you take God out of the human equation, the results can be disastrous. A very wise person can become a very cruel person. A well-learned person can become an impetus for war. A highly educated person can become social poison.
Now, let’s look at you. Are there times when your own personal wisdom or understanding gets in the way of doing what is right in the eyes of God? Do you question God so much that doubt overcomes your faith? Are you too smart to accept God’s word for how things need to work? Do your human emotions and fears and traditions get in the way of fulfilling work for God?
In the past eighty years, human beings have advanced technology by leaps and bounds. A computer in the 1940’s took up an entire large room. Today, a computer can be put in the watch on your wrist. Advancements have come at every level of technology. However, in the past ten years or so, some very smart people have begun to question some of the technology being used in the world, like Artificial Intelligence. Physicist Stephen Hawking saw that some forms of AI could be used to damage the human race. Entrepreneurs like Elon Musk stated his fear that should AI be adopted in some forms, we will be essentially “summoning the demon”. Some have advocated for “friendly Ais” in response. Others fear that human beings will use the technology to unleash Armageddon, a la the Terminator series of Sci-Fi movies. Would you trust your future to human wisdom divorced from godly grace?
In the scripture for today, Jesus spoke about the danger of human beings becoming too worldly wise. He prayed, thanking the Heavenly Father who has hidden some things from “those who think themselves wise and clever” but revealed great insights to those who have true faith (faith of a child; Matthew 11:25). From this prayer, we can see that Jesus was convinced that human beings who “think themselves wise and clever” can be wrong for the world.
Are you too wise and clever in worldly ways for your own good?
In a small town in the Midwest, a group of church people got upset that their pastor preached that God was against divorce. Though the pastor mentioned that God is against divorce is found in Malachi 2:16 among other places in the Bible, these people took offense. They gathered up a petition and got the pastor removed after two years of infighting at the church. However, because of their stance, no pastor would dare come to serve at that church. After a series of problems, that church closed. The nearest church now is twenty miles away. Those people in that church were convinced that divorce was not wrong. Because of their “wisdom”, they now have no church, no pastor to counsel the hurting, no food pantry to feed the hungry, no more childcare services, and no ministry to the poor. They used their human wisdom to reject God’s teaching. They used human petitions to force their opinion. Ultimately, they doomed much of the proclamation of the gospel in their hometown.
Be careful when your human thinking causes you to go up against something God wants. Be warned that your emotional or philosophical thinking may be in conflict with God’s wisdom. Sometimes, its difficult to understand God’s rationale. That doesn’t mean God is wrong! That just might mean that there are some things that you don’t fully comprehend yet. So, what are you going to do about it?
I guess in the end, it comes down to trust. Are you going to trust God’s wisdom or human understanding? Are you going to trust your own reason or God’s perspective? How much does God mean to you? Would you compromise the gospel in order to fit your personal beliefs?
There is a difference between God’s wisdom and human wisdom. Too often, especially in the church, these two concepts are seen as equals. I once heard a pastor proclaim, “I just can’t wrap my head around how God can allow human suffering, therefore human suffering must always be a bad thing.” Trust me, it is not always a bad thing. I’ve seen human suffering soften the most hardened soul. I ‘ve witnessed human suffering bring a person back to Christ when nothing else had worked. All human suffering hurts, but not all human suffering is bad. In the same manner, human wisdom is good, unless it is divorced from godly obedience. Without a godly foundation, human wisdom can cause all kinds of evil in the world.
Many people don’t know that Joseph Stalin, the notorious Russian leader, grew up in the church. He attended church school in his hometown of Gori. He even attended Tiflis Seminary when he considered ministry in the Russian Orthodox Church. Then, Stalin came under the influence of Lenin, Bolshevism, Socialism, and atheism. His religious ideals and belief in God were jettisoned as he chose to follow a revolutionary ideal. He studied famous works by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, both popular in the day. He read widely from philosophers, even Plato. The more he moved away from God and the more he was grounded in human philosophy and political theory, the more cruel and violent he became. It is believed that Stalin personally ordered the mass murder of as many as sixty million people. He was never able to see the wisdom of God, but he certainly understood the influence of philosophy and political theory. He ruined whole generations of human beings.
If you take God out of the human equation, the results can be disastrous. A very wise person can become a very cruel person. A well-learned person can become an impetus for war. A highly educated person can become social poison.
Now, let’s look at you. Are there times when your own personal wisdom or understanding gets in the way of doing what is right in the eyes of God? Do you question God so much that doubt overcomes your faith? Are you too smart to accept God’s word for how things need to work? Do your human emotions and fears and traditions get in the way of fulfilling work for God?
In the past eighty years, human beings have advanced technology by leaps and bounds. A computer in the 1940’s took up an entire large room. Today, a computer can be put in the watch on your wrist. Advancements have come at every level of technology. However, in the past ten years or so, some very smart people have begun to question some of the technology being used in the world, like Artificial Intelligence. Physicist Stephen Hawking saw that some forms of AI could be used to damage the human race. Entrepreneurs like Elon Musk stated his fear that should AI be adopted in some forms, we will be essentially “summoning the demon”. Some have advocated for “friendly Ais” in response. Others fear that human beings will use the technology to unleash Armageddon, a la the Terminator series of Sci-Fi movies. Would you trust your future to human wisdom divorced from godly grace?
In the scripture for today, Jesus spoke about the danger of human beings becoming too worldly wise. He prayed, thanking the Heavenly Father who has hidden some things from “those who think themselves wise and clever” but revealed great insights to those who have true faith (faith of a child; Matthew 11:25). From this prayer, we can see that Jesus was convinced that human beings who “think themselves wise and clever” can be wrong for the world.
Are you too wise and clever in worldly ways for your own good?
In a small town in the Midwest, a group of church people got upset that their pastor preached that God was against divorce. Though the pastor mentioned that God is against divorce is found in Malachi 2:16 among other places in the Bible, these people took offense. They gathered up a petition and got the pastor removed after two years of infighting at the church. However, because of their stance, no pastor would dare come to serve at that church. After a series of problems, that church closed. The nearest church now is twenty miles away. Those people in that church were convinced that divorce was not wrong. Because of their “wisdom”, they now have no church, no pastor to counsel the hurting, no food pantry to feed the hungry, no more childcare services, and no ministry to the poor. They used their human wisdom to reject God’s teaching. They used human petitions to force their opinion. Ultimately, they doomed much of the proclamation of the gospel in their hometown.
Be careful when your human thinking causes you to go up against something God wants. Be warned that your emotional or philosophical thinking may be in conflict with God’s wisdom. Sometimes, its difficult to understand God’s rationale. That doesn’t mean God is wrong! That just might mean that there are some things that you don’t fully comprehend yet. So, what are you going to do about it?
I guess in the end, it comes down to trust. Are you going to trust God’s wisdom or human understanding? Are you going to trust your own reason or God’s perspective? How much does God mean to you? Would you compromise the gospel in order to fit your personal beliefs?
June 20
“After the birth of Methuselah, Enoch lived in close fellowship with God for another 300 years, and he had other sons and daughters. Enoch lived 365 years, walking in close fellowship with God. Then one day he disappeared, because God took him.” (Genesis 5:22–24, NLT)
Some people are good at teaching about God. There are college professors who can teach you all the major religions and their major beliefs. However, it is possible to teach about God without being faithful. There are also those who are good at talking about God. There are pastors and church people who enjoy talking about their church or beliefs or faith. They might enjoy singing a hymn or going to Bible studies. However, just because people talk a lot about God doesn’t mean they are faithful. There are people who pray to God all the time. They pray before meals. They pray at bedtime. They even may be called on to pray before a group or congregation. Just because they are good at praying doesn’t mean they are faithful to God. On the other hand, our scripture for today is about Enoch. Not much is said about Enoch in the Bible. In point of fact, there are only a handful of verses about his life. However, in the short two verses mentioned above, Enoch is mentioned twice as living in “close fellowship with God” (Genesis 5:22,23). Other versions of the Bible say Enoch “walked with God”. Enoch didn’t just talk about his faith, dream about a relationship with God, or pray boldly. He took it a step further. He walked in close relationship with God. He didn’t just talk about what he believed; he walked the walk.
I find it interesting that many people are excited to learn that Enoch, spoken of in the scripture for today, lived three-hundred-sixty-five years. There are trivia questions devoted to the length of Enoch’s life! In Sunday Schools around the world, young children are taught that Enoch lived over three hundred years. Many children gasp when they hear this, thinking of all the possibilities with a long life. I think people focus way too much on Enoch’s age and not enough on how the Bible describes him.
In the scripture for today, Enoch is described as a man who “walked in close fellowship with God”. Some have tried to argue that when a person lives faithfully in “close fellowship with God”, they will be blessed with a long life. This is not necessarily true. Jesus only lived to thirty-three years of age when he died. The Apostle Paul was believed to have lived into his fifties or sixties. There is no direct correlation between the length of a person’s life and their faith level. I’ve met a good number of people who were very faithful but died at a young age from a car accident or cancer. However, there is a direct correlation in our scripture today. Too often, it is overlooked. That is the fact that Enoch not only walked in close fellowship with God, but God paid him special attention. Hebrews 11:5 explains further that God took Enoch to heaven without his even having to die. The reason? Hebrews states that Enoch “pleased God”. How did he please God? His faith was characterized as “walking in close fellowship with God”.
When you are walking in close fellowship with God, a special relationship develops between you and God. You become devoted to each other. You know each other well. You don’t just talk about God or pray to God. You don’t just appear faithful. You are faithful. Your actions as well as words confirm the bond between you and God. Everything you do and say displays for the world to see that something special exists in your friendship with God.
Henry and Betsy had an average marriage. They were married young. They had two children. Henry worked on a construction site. Betsy had a part-time job in retail but spent most of her time with their two children. She was a great mom. Then, an accident at work occurred that threw their lives in complete chaos.
Henry was carrying a heavy load of tools from one part of the construction site to another. Since the walk was only a few dozen feet, he decided not to use the wheelbarrow which was stored near the main office. His arms, loaded up with the tools he needed, strained at the load. As he lumbered over toward his destination, the tools partially blocked his view ahead. What Henry failed to notice was that a manhole cover had been removed and was lying next to the entrance to a sewer pipe. Before Henry knew what was happening, he fell down into the sewer.
Not only did Henry suffer the ten-foot fall, but the load of tools crashed on top of him. Overhearing Henry’s screams, another worker nearby brought him up and out of the sewer. Only then did they realize that Henry had multiple broken bones and a damaged spine. After his painful ride in the ambulance to the hospital, Henry went through two emergency surgeries and dozens of procedures. Damages to his skull, spine, and legs were extensive. The pain was horrendous. Morphine barely helped him overcome the intense pain.
Through the many hours of pain, tears, and suffering, Henry would often lie in bed in tears. Sometimes, he would sob openly when the pain became unbearable. Betsy was amazing. She slept on an air mattress next to his bed. She held his hand. She prayed over him. When he was moved to a rehab center, nurses often found Betsy lying in bed curled up to him sleeping. As Henry’s bones and bruises healed, something in him changed. He was humbled by the dedication and love of his wife, the many hours she spent by his side, the prayers she said over him, and the touch that seemed to soothe his pain. The whole ordeal changed Henry and Betsy forever. For decades after the accident, Betsy would crawl up on Henry’s lap and fall asleep in his arms. They would go out on dates every week or two without fail. They held hands whenever possible.
Betsy’s love and devotion, hugs, prayers, hand holding, and support changed Henry. When Henry needed Betsy, she was there in a powerful way. Henry told me later that Betsy saved him in so many ways. Her devotion and care, her faith and touch, spoke volumes. The many ways Betsy displayed courage and love and devotion and care brought the best out of Henry. Then he, in turn, became one of the most loving husbands I ever met.
When people faithfully “walk the walk”, showing true love, lives are changed. I hope your life is characterized by a lot of talk. Your actions speak louder than your words. When a person “walks in close relationship with God”, the effects are powerful. When you not only talk about faithfulness but exhibit it in true form, your belief in God causes ripples of love and grace all around. It affects your marriage, your friendships, your commitments, your values, your actions. I hope you are more than just a person who talks about important things. I pray you do something about what inspires you, especially your love of God. I pray you exhibit it over and over. I pray your acts of love and devotion encourage others to be better people.
God knows well those who “walk in close relationship with Him”. Would this include you?
I find it interesting that many people are excited to learn that Enoch, spoken of in the scripture for today, lived three-hundred-sixty-five years. There are trivia questions devoted to the length of Enoch’s life! In Sunday Schools around the world, young children are taught that Enoch lived over three hundred years. Many children gasp when they hear this, thinking of all the possibilities with a long life. I think people focus way too much on Enoch’s age and not enough on how the Bible describes him.
In the scripture for today, Enoch is described as a man who “walked in close fellowship with God”. Some have tried to argue that when a person lives faithfully in “close fellowship with God”, they will be blessed with a long life. This is not necessarily true. Jesus only lived to thirty-three years of age when he died. The Apostle Paul was believed to have lived into his fifties or sixties. There is no direct correlation between the length of a person’s life and their faith level. I’ve met a good number of people who were very faithful but died at a young age from a car accident or cancer. However, there is a direct correlation in our scripture today. Too often, it is overlooked. That is the fact that Enoch not only walked in close fellowship with God, but God paid him special attention. Hebrews 11:5 explains further that God took Enoch to heaven without his even having to die. The reason? Hebrews states that Enoch “pleased God”. How did he please God? His faith was characterized as “walking in close fellowship with God”.
When you are walking in close fellowship with God, a special relationship develops between you and God. You become devoted to each other. You know each other well. You don’t just talk about God or pray to God. You don’t just appear faithful. You are faithful. Your actions as well as words confirm the bond between you and God. Everything you do and say displays for the world to see that something special exists in your friendship with God.
Henry and Betsy had an average marriage. They were married young. They had two children. Henry worked on a construction site. Betsy had a part-time job in retail but spent most of her time with their two children. She was a great mom. Then, an accident at work occurred that threw their lives in complete chaos.
Henry was carrying a heavy load of tools from one part of the construction site to another. Since the walk was only a few dozen feet, he decided not to use the wheelbarrow which was stored near the main office. His arms, loaded up with the tools he needed, strained at the load. As he lumbered over toward his destination, the tools partially blocked his view ahead. What Henry failed to notice was that a manhole cover had been removed and was lying next to the entrance to a sewer pipe. Before Henry knew what was happening, he fell down into the sewer.
Not only did Henry suffer the ten-foot fall, but the load of tools crashed on top of him. Overhearing Henry’s screams, another worker nearby brought him up and out of the sewer. Only then did they realize that Henry had multiple broken bones and a damaged spine. After his painful ride in the ambulance to the hospital, Henry went through two emergency surgeries and dozens of procedures. Damages to his skull, spine, and legs were extensive. The pain was horrendous. Morphine barely helped him overcome the intense pain.
Through the many hours of pain, tears, and suffering, Henry would often lie in bed in tears. Sometimes, he would sob openly when the pain became unbearable. Betsy was amazing. She slept on an air mattress next to his bed. She held his hand. She prayed over him. When he was moved to a rehab center, nurses often found Betsy lying in bed curled up to him sleeping. As Henry’s bones and bruises healed, something in him changed. He was humbled by the dedication and love of his wife, the many hours she spent by his side, the prayers she said over him, and the touch that seemed to soothe his pain. The whole ordeal changed Henry and Betsy forever. For decades after the accident, Betsy would crawl up on Henry’s lap and fall asleep in his arms. They would go out on dates every week or two without fail. They held hands whenever possible.
Betsy’s love and devotion, hugs, prayers, hand holding, and support changed Henry. When Henry needed Betsy, she was there in a powerful way. Henry told me later that Betsy saved him in so many ways. Her devotion and care, her faith and touch, spoke volumes. The many ways Betsy displayed courage and love and devotion and care brought the best out of Henry. Then he, in turn, became one of the most loving husbands I ever met.
When people faithfully “walk the walk”, showing true love, lives are changed. I hope your life is characterized by a lot of talk. Your actions speak louder than your words. When a person “walks in close relationship with God”, the effects are powerful. When you not only talk about faithfulness but exhibit it in true form, your belief in God causes ripples of love and grace all around. It affects your marriage, your friendships, your commitments, your values, your actions. I hope you are more than just a person who talks about important things. I pray you do something about what inspires you, especially your love of God. I pray you exhibit it over and over. I pray your acts of love and devotion encourage others to be better people.
God knows well those who “walk in close relationship with Him”. Would this include you?
June 22
“Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”” (John 20:21, NRSV)
Some Christians have the idea that when a person “comes to Jesus”, that is the end of a long struggle to faithfulness. However, this is not the END of a long struggle, no matter how long it took the person to come to Jesus. It is the beginning of new phase in the relationship with God in Christ. In the same way, baptism is not the culminating moment of a person’s life. It is the beginning of the next phase of God’s plan. Notice that Jesus was not baptized at the end of His ministry. He was baptized at the beginning. When you decide to follow God in Christ, you embark on a new journey, a new relationship, a new mission with Jesus. As Jesus was sent into this world to save you, so you must go into this world to save and protect and love and teach others. If you are serious about your faith, you need to let Jesus send you places in this world!
In a commentary on the verse for today written above, one reference included the following words: “Believers are not meant to enjoy His [Jesus’] peace selfishly. They are to share it with others. So He sends them into the world, as the Father had sent Him…” (Believer’s Bible Commentary, p. 1568). If you are a true Christian and have a trusted relationship with God through Christ, you are not just to worship on Sunday morning. You are not just to study the Bible. You are not only to pray. You are “sent” into this world with a purpose. You need to share the good news of Jesus, be an example of faith, reach out to those in need of transformation in order to be faithful to Jesus. Your purpose in being a follower of Jesus is not just to receive the benefits of faith. You are “sent” into your world with a holy purpose, a godly direction.
Where are you being sent by Jesus at this time of your life?
Wayne Stiles wrote: “Just as God fashioned the land of Israel to develop the spiritual lives of His people, so also He also shapes your circumstances for the same reason. So the Lord takes us places. Unwanted places.
God will lead you places you cannot control.
God will lead you to circumstances you don’t understand.
God will lead you to situations that compel you to trust Him.” (waynestiles.com)
After stating the above, Stiles added that you can do one of three things: you can struggle against God, struggle with God, or struggle for God. It’s up to you to decide. Which will you do?
When Jeff woke up one morning, he looked outside at a beautiful sunny day. He dreamed about all the things he might do but fishing seemed the best choice! He walked out to his garage to get together his gear when he noticed that overnight his dog had damaged his neighbor’s fence. The dog had scratched through a portion of the bottom of several slats in the fence, probably attempting to get at some animal. Jeff knew his elderly neighbor was a man of few words who often looked angry and seemed to harbor resentment. With hat in hand, Jeff walked next door to break the bad news.
After showing his neighbor the damage to the fence, Jeff promised to fix all the damaged pieces. The neighbor was visibly upset at the damage but said little. Jeff abandoned his plans to go fishing and set about fixing the fence. He bought new pieces of wood and painted them to match. Eight hours later, he finished fixing that fence. At the end of the day, the neighbor came over to the fence and peeked over, saying, “I sure appreciate all your hard work to fix this fence. It means a lot. I didn’t think you’d actually fix the fence, let alone do it right away and do a great job!” With these words, there began a relationship between Jeff and his neighbor.
Over the next twenty years, Jeff and his neighbor became fast friends. Jeff visited when his neighbor’s wife died. Jeff stopped in now and again to see if his neighbor needed anything. When his neighbor entered rehab after a hip replacement, Jeff saw to it that his yard was mowed and watched the house. Two years later, Jeff heard hollering from his neighbor’s yard. He ran over to find that his neighbor had fallen, probably from a stroke. Jeff waited with the man until the ambulance came. Just before the ambulance arrived, the elderly neighbor using hand gestures asked Jeff to pray for him. Without hesitation, Jeff grabbed the man’s hand and closed his eyes and prayed. It was an awesome moment of shared faith!
You never know when God might send you to be HIS missionary to a next-door neighbor! You may not foresee a moment when you will be asked to pray and share the faith. But one thing is certain. If God sends you somewhere to be with someone, HE has a plan. HE has a reason. HE will be hoping your faith will make THE difference.
In today’s scripture, Jesus’ important words to His disciples recorded in the gospel of John were clear. As Jesus was sent by God the Father, so HE will also “send you” (John 20:21). You may not be privy to the places God will send you. You may not know all the reasons God chose you for that mission. You may not know how long that mission will last. BUT know that when God sends you somewhere or to someone, godly things will happen along the way!
In a commentary on the verse for today written above, one reference included the following words: “Believers are not meant to enjoy His [Jesus’] peace selfishly. They are to share it with others. So He sends them into the world, as the Father had sent Him…” (Believer’s Bible Commentary, p. 1568). If you are a true Christian and have a trusted relationship with God through Christ, you are not just to worship on Sunday morning. You are not just to study the Bible. You are not only to pray. You are “sent” into this world with a purpose. You need to share the good news of Jesus, be an example of faith, reach out to those in need of transformation in order to be faithful to Jesus. Your purpose in being a follower of Jesus is not just to receive the benefits of faith. You are “sent” into your world with a holy purpose, a godly direction.
Where are you being sent by Jesus at this time of your life?
Wayne Stiles wrote: “Just as God fashioned the land of Israel to develop the spiritual lives of His people, so also He also shapes your circumstances for the same reason. So the Lord takes us places. Unwanted places.
God will lead you places you cannot control.
God will lead you to circumstances you don’t understand.
God will lead you to situations that compel you to trust Him.” (waynestiles.com)
After stating the above, Stiles added that you can do one of three things: you can struggle against God, struggle with God, or struggle for God. It’s up to you to decide. Which will you do?
When Jeff woke up one morning, he looked outside at a beautiful sunny day. He dreamed about all the things he might do but fishing seemed the best choice! He walked out to his garage to get together his gear when he noticed that overnight his dog had damaged his neighbor’s fence. The dog had scratched through a portion of the bottom of several slats in the fence, probably attempting to get at some animal. Jeff knew his elderly neighbor was a man of few words who often looked angry and seemed to harbor resentment. With hat in hand, Jeff walked next door to break the bad news.
After showing his neighbor the damage to the fence, Jeff promised to fix all the damaged pieces. The neighbor was visibly upset at the damage but said little. Jeff abandoned his plans to go fishing and set about fixing the fence. He bought new pieces of wood and painted them to match. Eight hours later, he finished fixing that fence. At the end of the day, the neighbor came over to the fence and peeked over, saying, “I sure appreciate all your hard work to fix this fence. It means a lot. I didn’t think you’d actually fix the fence, let alone do it right away and do a great job!” With these words, there began a relationship between Jeff and his neighbor.
Over the next twenty years, Jeff and his neighbor became fast friends. Jeff visited when his neighbor’s wife died. Jeff stopped in now and again to see if his neighbor needed anything. When his neighbor entered rehab after a hip replacement, Jeff saw to it that his yard was mowed and watched the house. Two years later, Jeff heard hollering from his neighbor’s yard. He ran over to find that his neighbor had fallen, probably from a stroke. Jeff waited with the man until the ambulance came. Just before the ambulance arrived, the elderly neighbor using hand gestures asked Jeff to pray for him. Without hesitation, Jeff grabbed the man’s hand and closed his eyes and prayed. It was an awesome moment of shared faith!
You never know when God might send you to be HIS missionary to a next-door neighbor! You may not foresee a moment when you will be asked to pray and share the faith. But one thing is certain. If God sends you somewhere to be with someone, HE has a plan. HE has a reason. HE will be hoping your faith will make THE difference.
In today’s scripture, Jesus’ important words to His disciples recorded in the gospel of John were clear. As Jesus was sent by God the Father, so HE will also “send you” (John 20:21). You may not be privy to the places God will send you. You may not know all the reasons God chose you for that mission. You may not know how long that mission will last. BUT know that when God sends you somewhere or to someone, godly things will happen along the way!
June 24
“Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.” (Romans 8:26, ESV)
There are some days when you just don’t have the words to pray. It might be that you are so bone tired from exhaustion that your mind and heart just can’t seem to get it together. Maybe you just lost a loved one and are so numb in mind and heart and soul that you can’t seem to form logical thoughts. Overcome with anger or hurt or pain, you might lack the ability to summon up a prayer to God that is in any way coherent. When mind, soul, or heart are a mess, just realize that God is with you. In fact, the scripture above tells us that when you “do not know what to pray for”, the Holy Spirit will take up the prayer and “intercede” for you (Romans 8:26). Because you are a true Christian, because you have asked the Holy Spirit to fill you, because you love God, the Holy Spirit in you continues to converse with God even when you cannot.
I hurried over to the home of a family in the congregation. I just received the news that their only child had died in a freak accident. Arriving, I knocked, and the father let me into the home. He told me that the two were totally shocked and still didn’t know all the events that surrounded their son’s death. The police had just left. They were grasping for information and becoming overwhelmed with loss.
As I walked into the living room, I saw the mother. She sat in a chair in the corner, staring off into the distance. The father stood by her side and massaged her shoulder. Though they were my age, they looked like they had both aged twenty years. I tried talking, but the mother wouldn’t say a word. She was still in shock. The father did all the talking. Without desiring to burden them any longer, I told them I would be there for anything they needed and I’d take care of any arrangements they required for the funeral and visitation and more. We prayed together, and then I left. The mother had never uttered one single word.
A few months later, I talked with that mother about those terrible days. She responded that the hours were a blur of pain and tears and mourners and too much. She was still trying to cope with all the changes that her loss had wrought. After a short talk, I mentioned the verse above and told her that God was not only with her, God’s Spirit was going to help her out for a while. Even when she couldn’t think, the Holy Spirit would help her form words and heal and pray. It comforted her to know that the Heavenly Father not only knew what it was like to lose an only child but was going to comfort her personally in the present.
I have no doubt that at various times in your life, your world will be turned upside down. As a child, this might occur with a loss, a big change, a health crisis, and more. As a teen, this will occur as you spread your wings, take chances, do new things, take on new responsibilities, and make mistakes. As an adult, this can occur during dating, when having children, during a disaster, and at various stages of life. There are many things that can steal the words from you and cause you to go numb. All of life is full of risks and dangers and trials and challenges. So often, we surround ourselves with the familiar and don’t even realize what could go wrong until it does go wrong.
For one moment, think about the people of the Bible in real terms. King David lost a child at birth. His son attempted to kill him. His best friend’s father attempted to murder him. Jeremiah was wrongly put in chains. Joseph was wrongly accused on rape. Lot lost his entire house and his wife on the same day! Job lost several children to death, then became very sick for a time. Jonah was thrown overboard! Elijah was struck with deep depression. Jesus was wrongly accused and crucified! All these put their hope in God. In their moments of deep pain when words could barely be formed, they put their trust in God. And God came through.
God doesn’t come into your life only when things are going well. God doesn’t align Himself with only the winners or the powerful or the successful. God is there through thick and thin. And when things really take a turn for the worse, God will not let you down. If you look hard enough, you will find God’s presence in your most difficult days. Why? You are loved beyond measure. Jesus has declared you part of His family. The Holy Spirit is at home in your heart and soul and mind. So, don’t worry about the difficult days that will come. God will be closer than you can even imagine. God’s Spirit will carry you through no matter what you face. HE promised!
I hurried over to the home of a family in the congregation. I just received the news that their only child had died in a freak accident. Arriving, I knocked, and the father let me into the home. He told me that the two were totally shocked and still didn’t know all the events that surrounded their son’s death. The police had just left. They were grasping for information and becoming overwhelmed with loss.
As I walked into the living room, I saw the mother. She sat in a chair in the corner, staring off into the distance. The father stood by her side and massaged her shoulder. Though they were my age, they looked like they had both aged twenty years. I tried talking, but the mother wouldn’t say a word. She was still in shock. The father did all the talking. Without desiring to burden them any longer, I told them I would be there for anything they needed and I’d take care of any arrangements they required for the funeral and visitation and more. We prayed together, and then I left. The mother had never uttered one single word.
A few months later, I talked with that mother about those terrible days. She responded that the hours were a blur of pain and tears and mourners and too much. She was still trying to cope with all the changes that her loss had wrought. After a short talk, I mentioned the verse above and told her that God was not only with her, God’s Spirit was going to help her out for a while. Even when she couldn’t think, the Holy Spirit would help her form words and heal and pray. It comforted her to know that the Heavenly Father not only knew what it was like to lose an only child but was going to comfort her personally in the present.
I have no doubt that at various times in your life, your world will be turned upside down. As a child, this might occur with a loss, a big change, a health crisis, and more. As a teen, this will occur as you spread your wings, take chances, do new things, take on new responsibilities, and make mistakes. As an adult, this can occur during dating, when having children, during a disaster, and at various stages of life. There are many things that can steal the words from you and cause you to go numb. All of life is full of risks and dangers and trials and challenges. So often, we surround ourselves with the familiar and don’t even realize what could go wrong until it does go wrong.
For one moment, think about the people of the Bible in real terms. King David lost a child at birth. His son attempted to kill him. His best friend’s father attempted to murder him. Jeremiah was wrongly put in chains. Joseph was wrongly accused on rape. Lot lost his entire house and his wife on the same day! Job lost several children to death, then became very sick for a time. Jonah was thrown overboard! Elijah was struck with deep depression. Jesus was wrongly accused and crucified! All these put their hope in God. In their moments of deep pain when words could barely be formed, they put their trust in God. And God came through.
God doesn’t come into your life only when things are going well. God doesn’t align Himself with only the winners or the powerful or the successful. God is there through thick and thin. And when things really take a turn for the worse, God will not let you down. If you look hard enough, you will find God’s presence in your most difficult days. Why? You are loved beyond measure. Jesus has declared you part of His family. The Holy Spirit is at home in your heart and soul and mind. So, don’t worry about the difficult days that will come. God will be closer than you can even imagine. God’s Spirit will carry you through no matter what you face. HE promised!
June 27
“Finally, when we could stand it no longer, we decided to stay alone in Athens, and we sent Timothy to visit you. He is our brother and God’s co-worker in proclaiming the Good News of Christ. We sent him to strengthen you, to encourage you in your faith…”
(1 Thessalonians 3:1–2, NLT)
(1 Thessalonians 3:1–2, NLT)
Paul was not the only apostle. He was not the only missionary pastor. There were a good number of those in the early days of the church. Paul sent several apostles and pastors to churches to help with various trials. For example, Timothy and Titus and Luke often traveled with Paul or were involved in ministry with Paul. Each had different areas of expertise and abilities. At times, one or several of these other apostles would stay with Paul, travel with Paul, set up a church, or check in on a church. In today’s scripture, we are informed that Paul sent Timothy to the church in Thessalonica. Timothy was sent with a specific mission. He was to “strengthen” and “encourage the faith” of the people during that period of the first century.
1 Thessalonians 2 mentions the suffering that the Thessalonian Christians endured. Their prosecution came from “their own countrymen” (1 Thessalonians 2:14). Paul desperately wanted to visit and encourage the Thessalonian church. He was not able to go. Instead, he sent trusted Timothy to strengthen and encourage the faith of the followers of Christ in Thessalonica. Paul was confident that Timothy would help them to deal with their suffering, hurt, and pain. When Timothy returned from the trip, he told Paul of all the examples of earnest faith and prayer going on in Thessalonica. Paul was greatly encouraged at the good news (1 Thessalonians 3:6-10). Timothy even reported that the Christians there “stood fast in the Lord”. What a great way to describe their admirable faith stance!
I find it interesting that modern Christians don’t realize the need to send faithful followers to help others during their time of need. Equally, I’m shocked that modern Christians don’t realize that God may want to send them to others who need to be “strengthened” and “encouraged” in their faith. When Jesus sent out some of the first disciples to do missionary work, he sent them out “two by two” so that they could lean on each other and encourage one another (Luke 10:1). From the beginning of Christianity, many church leaders followed suit. They too sent out missionaries and pastors and workers together, in pairs or groups, to help and encourage and strengthen the churches. It helps when a person with strong faith is standing beside you!
Too many Christians have a belief in God that is too personal and not communal. They consider their relationship with God to be a simple one-to-one relationship between them and the Lord. In truth, your one-to-one relationship with God is not your only faithful relationship. You have a faith community around you, people who believe in God and are willing to stand with you. There is no reason for any Christian to “go at it alone”. In fact, God desires we stand beside one another, encourage one another, and bolster each other. Not only may God send someone to be by your side during a difficult time, but God may also send you to be the spiritual strength of someone who is hurting or lonely or tired or weak. It’s the way God works! It’s a beautiful thing!
During her prayer time, Deborah got this feeling that something was wrong with her daughter. Deborah’s daughter Tiffany was married and had recently given birth to her first child. Though Deborah had only heard good things from Tiffany, Deborah had an uneasy feeling that morning. After praying to God about it, Deborah decided to drive the hour and a half to see Tiffany. When she arrived, she was shocked to find that the house was a mess, Tiffany was living in her pajamas, and the baby was crying often from teething. While showing a lot of love and compassion, Deborah took charge. She began to help Tiffany wherever possible. She cleaned and cooked, gave Tiffany time to sleep, and helped watch the baby while Tiffany and her husband had their first date away from home since the baby’s birth. Despite being exhausted and overwhelmed, Tiffany wasn’t going to ask her mother for help. But God knew her need. God sent Deborah to help and encourage and love all those involved. It made a world of difference.
What I didn’t tell you about that story is that Deborah is a strong Christian. Her daughter and son-in-law were not. Deborah’s overwhelming support and help and encouragement went a long way toward showing the love of God to that household. In fact, it was only after Deborah’s visit that Tiffany began to express her need to find a local church in which to worship.
You may not know all the times that God is sending you to someone. You may not realize when God is sending someone to you! Just as in the days of the New Testament, God continues to send faithful people where they are needed most. Is there somewhere God wants you to go? Is there someone who might need you soon? Are you getting a feeling that God wants to send some help? Are you in need of help?
Don’t neglect to ask God when you need help. It just might be that encouragement is not only what you want but also what you desperately need! Also, don’t neglect to follow God’s leading. You might just be surprised how valuable could be to the faith life of another!
1 Thessalonians 2 mentions the suffering that the Thessalonian Christians endured. Their prosecution came from “their own countrymen” (1 Thessalonians 2:14). Paul desperately wanted to visit and encourage the Thessalonian church. He was not able to go. Instead, he sent trusted Timothy to strengthen and encourage the faith of the followers of Christ in Thessalonica. Paul was confident that Timothy would help them to deal with their suffering, hurt, and pain. When Timothy returned from the trip, he told Paul of all the examples of earnest faith and prayer going on in Thessalonica. Paul was greatly encouraged at the good news (1 Thessalonians 3:6-10). Timothy even reported that the Christians there “stood fast in the Lord”. What a great way to describe their admirable faith stance!
I find it interesting that modern Christians don’t realize the need to send faithful followers to help others during their time of need. Equally, I’m shocked that modern Christians don’t realize that God may want to send them to others who need to be “strengthened” and “encouraged” in their faith. When Jesus sent out some of the first disciples to do missionary work, he sent them out “two by two” so that they could lean on each other and encourage one another (Luke 10:1). From the beginning of Christianity, many church leaders followed suit. They too sent out missionaries and pastors and workers together, in pairs or groups, to help and encourage and strengthen the churches. It helps when a person with strong faith is standing beside you!
Too many Christians have a belief in God that is too personal and not communal. They consider their relationship with God to be a simple one-to-one relationship between them and the Lord. In truth, your one-to-one relationship with God is not your only faithful relationship. You have a faith community around you, people who believe in God and are willing to stand with you. There is no reason for any Christian to “go at it alone”. In fact, God desires we stand beside one another, encourage one another, and bolster each other. Not only may God send someone to be by your side during a difficult time, but God may also send you to be the spiritual strength of someone who is hurting or lonely or tired or weak. It’s the way God works! It’s a beautiful thing!
During her prayer time, Deborah got this feeling that something was wrong with her daughter. Deborah’s daughter Tiffany was married and had recently given birth to her first child. Though Deborah had only heard good things from Tiffany, Deborah had an uneasy feeling that morning. After praying to God about it, Deborah decided to drive the hour and a half to see Tiffany. When she arrived, she was shocked to find that the house was a mess, Tiffany was living in her pajamas, and the baby was crying often from teething. While showing a lot of love and compassion, Deborah took charge. She began to help Tiffany wherever possible. She cleaned and cooked, gave Tiffany time to sleep, and helped watch the baby while Tiffany and her husband had their first date away from home since the baby’s birth. Despite being exhausted and overwhelmed, Tiffany wasn’t going to ask her mother for help. But God knew her need. God sent Deborah to help and encourage and love all those involved. It made a world of difference.
What I didn’t tell you about that story is that Deborah is a strong Christian. Her daughter and son-in-law were not. Deborah’s overwhelming support and help and encouragement went a long way toward showing the love of God to that household. In fact, it was only after Deborah’s visit that Tiffany began to express her need to find a local church in which to worship.
You may not know all the times that God is sending you to someone. You may not realize when God is sending someone to you! Just as in the days of the New Testament, God continues to send faithful people where they are needed most. Is there somewhere God wants you to go? Is there someone who might need you soon? Are you getting a feeling that God wants to send some help? Are you in need of help?
Don’t neglect to ask God when you need help. It just might be that encouragement is not only what you want but also what you desperately need! Also, don’t neglect to follow God’s leading. You might just be surprised how valuable could be to the faith life of another!
June 29
“God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”” (John 4:24, NRSV)
As you read the Bible, you may gloss over words that mean a lot. Because the words are familiar, you may miss an important aspect of the scripture because of your familiarity with the words or scripture. In doing so, you might miss some very important aspects of God’s Word.
In the scripture above, the gospel of John gives key elements of the faithful life. First, the scripture acknowledges that “God is Spirit”. These three words make perfectly clear that God is not a form of human or in any way part human. Though Jesus was human, HE took the form of a human. From the beginning of creation, Jesus was God in Spirit. This is made abundantly clear in Philippians 2:6-7 where Paul describes Jesus, who was in the “form of God” but was “born in the likeness of men”. Thus, Jesus left the eternal spiritual world to become human. The Son of God became also the son of a human. Because God is Spirit, we cannot see God’s actions with our own eyes. Because God is Spirit, we also cannot control Him in any way. On the other hand, that doesn’t mean we can’t feel His presence or discern His actions!
Because God is spiritual, the scripture goes on to reflect that we need to worship God “in spirit and truth” (John 4:24). In point of fact, the scripture commands that we MUST worship God in spirit and truth. That small word, MUST, is often overlooked or downplayed. It should not be. When you worship God, your spirit needs to mingle with the Holy Spirit so that your worship will be godly. At the same time, you need to worship “in truth”. Lies and dishonesty and deception do not belong in the realm of your worship. Worship isn’t a show. It is not entertainment. Sermons are not the opinions of the preacher. Worship needs to be infused with God’s Spirit and be full of God’s truth.
I have found that there are many houses of worship that neglect God’s Spirit and God’s truth. I have found Christians who neglect God’s Spirit and God’s truth. I have seen worship that is lacking in Spirit and truth. I have seen the spiritual life of people weakened or destroyed because of the lack of spirit and truth. Jesus, in the scripture for today, demanded your worship MUST have spirit and truth. Does it?
Joe’s favorite worship service was on Christmas Eve. No matter where he was or what his situation, he always managed to attend worship somewhere on that evening. He loved the lights and carols and warmth of the season. He loved to reminisce of years gone by. He enjoyed the thought of Jesus coming into the world to save it; to save him.
In 2009, Joe’s life took a turn. The economic downturn caused his company to lay off dozens. Those who were left behind were asked to pick up the slack. For months on end, Joe and the people in his office worked long fifty-hour and sixty-hour weeks. By Christmas Eve that year, Joe’s life was filled with stress, overwork, and exhaustion. He began to smoke more heavily. He drank every night when he came home from work just to calm down from his hectic schedule. Weekends were spent sleeping in and recovering. He often isolated himself in the den watching TV for hours on end or falling asleep in his chair. The whole family felt Joe’s stress. His wife began to complain of his long hours and lack of family life. His two children no longer expected his presence at school events or awards presentations.
On Christmas Eve in 2009, Joe entered the sanctuary with his family. For the first time in his life, Joe wanted to be home in his den or asleep in his bed. Joe did not want to be at the 11pm mass. As the priest went through the liturgy of this special worship service, Joe followed along. Unlike previous times, though, Joe was just going through the motions. He sang the familiar carols, but his heart was not in it. He heard the familiar scripture readings, but he barely listened. His mind had shut down. Spiritually, he had clocked out.
In the weeks after that Christmas Eve service, Joe’s life began to unravel. He had problems sleeping. He became distant and withdrawn. There was little joy in Joe’s life.
In February of 2010, Joe had a mild heart attack. After weeks of hospitalizations and recovery and rehab, Joe sat in his familiar recliner in his den. There, he decided to make a few big changes to his life. He was sick and tired of being sick and tired. He didn’t want to live this way. The stress was killing him. His job was killing him. There was no enjoyment anymore. Closing his eyes in his den, he prayed asking God to help him see what was wrong. He then picked up his Bible and began to reread the Christmas story. He resolved to read his Bible every day and never go a day without prayer again.
Something happened to Joe in the next hours and days. Joe began to appreciate his blessings. He began to rearrange his values around a faithful life. By the next Christmas Eve, Joe’s excitement to go to worship had returned. His values had shifted back to what was godly. His family felt whole again.
Joe found that his spiritual life was lacking spirit and truth. When this became clear, he vowed to change things. Today, Joe is a very different man. He is close to God. His prayer life is very active. He knows his Bible. He understands the truth of being honest with God and himself about things. Because Joe now worships in spirit and in truth, his whole life is different. His spiritual life is vibrant. His relationship with God is passionate and engaging. Sadly, it took a heart attack for Joe to realize his error; that spirit and truth were lacking in his time with God.
If you ever find your spiritual life lacking in vitality, maybe you too have lost the desire to worship God “in spirit and in truth”. Maybe you need more of the Holy Spirit in your life. Have you ever asked God to FILL you with His Spirit? What is stopping you from being filled right now? It might also be that the passion in your spiritual life is lacking due to a lack of truth. Have lies about yourself or your situation clouded your judgment? Are you completely honest with yourself and with God?
A spiritual life will die on the vine unless it is filled with “spirit and truth”. How passionate are you in the Spirit lately? How genuine are you with yourself and with God?
In the scripture above, the gospel of John gives key elements of the faithful life. First, the scripture acknowledges that “God is Spirit”. These three words make perfectly clear that God is not a form of human or in any way part human. Though Jesus was human, HE took the form of a human. From the beginning of creation, Jesus was God in Spirit. This is made abundantly clear in Philippians 2:6-7 where Paul describes Jesus, who was in the “form of God” but was “born in the likeness of men”. Thus, Jesus left the eternal spiritual world to become human. The Son of God became also the son of a human. Because God is Spirit, we cannot see God’s actions with our own eyes. Because God is Spirit, we also cannot control Him in any way. On the other hand, that doesn’t mean we can’t feel His presence or discern His actions!
Because God is spiritual, the scripture goes on to reflect that we need to worship God “in spirit and truth” (John 4:24). In point of fact, the scripture commands that we MUST worship God in spirit and truth. That small word, MUST, is often overlooked or downplayed. It should not be. When you worship God, your spirit needs to mingle with the Holy Spirit so that your worship will be godly. At the same time, you need to worship “in truth”. Lies and dishonesty and deception do not belong in the realm of your worship. Worship isn’t a show. It is not entertainment. Sermons are not the opinions of the preacher. Worship needs to be infused with God’s Spirit and be full of God’s truth.
I have found that there are many houses of worship that neglect God’s Spirit and God’s truth. I have found Christians who neglect God’s Spirit and God’s truth. I have seen worship that is lacking in Spirit and truth. I have seen the spiritual life of people weakened or destroyed because of the lack of spirit and truth. Jesus, in the scripture for today, demanded your worship MUST have spirit and truth. Does it?
Joe’s favorite worship service was on Christmas Eve. No matter where he was or what his situation, he always managed to attend worship somewhere on that evening. He loved the lights and carols and warmth of the season. He loved to reminisce of years gone by. He enjoyed the thought of Jesus coming into the world to save it; to save him.
In 2009, Joe’s life took a turn. The economic downturn caused his company to lay off dozens. Those who were left behind were asked to pick up the slack. For months on end, Joe and the people in his office worked long fifty-hour and sixty-hour weeks. By Christmas Eve that year, Joe’s life was filled with stress, overwork, and exhaustion. He began to smoke more heavily. He drank every night when he came home from work just to calm down from his hectic schedule. Weekends were spent sleeping in and recovering. He often isolated himself in the den watching TV for hours on end or falling asleep in his chair. The whole family felt Joe’s stress. His wife began to complain of his long hours and lack of family life. His two children no longer expected his presence at school events or awards presentations.
On Christmas Eve in 2009, Joe entered the sanctuary with his family. For the first time in his life, Joe wanted to be home in his den or asleep in his bed. Joe did not want to be at the 11pm mass. As the priest went through the liturgy of this special worship service, Joe followed along. Unlike previous times, though, Joe was just going through the motions. He sang the familiar carols, but his heart was not in it. He heard the familiar scripture readings, but he barely listened. His mind had shut down. Spiritually, he had clocked out.
In the weeks after that Christmas Eve service, Joe’s life began to unravel. He had problems sleeping. He became distant and withdrawn. There was little joy in Joe’s life.
In February of 2010, Joe had a mild heart attack. After weeks of hospitalizations and recovery and rehab, Joe sat in his familiar recliner in his den. There, he decided to make a few big changes to his life. He was sick and tired of being sick and tired. He didn’t want to live this way. The stress was killing him. His job was killing him. There was no enjoyment anymore. Closing his eyes in his den, he prayed asking God to help him see what was wrong. He then picked up his Bible and began to reread the Christmas story. He resolved to read his Bible every day and never go a day without prayer again.
Something happened to Joe in the next hours and days. Joe began to appreciate his blessings. He began to rearrange his values around a faithful life. By the next Christmas Eve, Joe’s excitement to go to worship had returned. His values had shifted back to what was godly. His family felt whole again.
Joe found that his spiritual life was lacking spirit and truth. When this became clear, he vowed to change things. Today, Joe is a very different man. He is close to God. His prayer life is very active. He knows his Bible. He understands the truth of being honest with God and himself about things. Because Joe now worships in spirit and in truth, his whole life is different. His spiritual life is vibrant. His relationship with God is passionate and engaging. Sadly, it took a heart attack for Joe to realize his error; that spirit and truth were lacking in his time with God.
If you ever find your spiritual life lacking in vitality, maybe you too have lost the desire to worship God “in spirit and in truth”. Maybe you need more of the Holy Spirit in your life. Have you ever asked God to FILL you with His Spirit? What is stopping you from being filled right now? It might also be that the passion in your spiritual life is lacking due to a lack of truth. Have lies about yourself or your situation clouded your judgment? Are you completely honest with yourself and with God?
A spiritual life will die on the vine unless it is filled with “spirit and truth”. How passionate are you in the Spirit lately? How genuine are you with yourself and with God?